Recipes
Jerk Scallop & Mango Ceviche
The fresh flavors are incredible in this Jerk Scallop & Mango Ceviche It is easy to make, and this party-sized batch will be a welcome addition to your next gathering as an appetizer or side dish. Citrus and mango are the perfect complement to the scallops, and our Jerk Seasoning brings Caribbean spicing to the mix. It has allspice, thyme, ginger and a friendly amount of habanero. The sweet mango and creamy avocado meld with the scallops, contrasted with a crunch of onion and bell pepper for the perfect bite. Cilantro and chive give additional pops of flavor in this sunny dish.
Learn moreJerk Turkey with Pineapple Salsa
Today, we're going big! Every year at Thanksgiving, I ponder why we don't cook turkey at other times of year and vow to do so. And then I don't. Until now. With more time to cook at home, we're finally getting around to all those great recipe inspirations. This one takes turkey in a whole new direction with our Jerk Seasoning, and leaves you with plenty of leftovers. Dry-brining the turkey overnight infuses flavors of ginger, allspice and thyme deep into the meat with just enough heat from the habanero to make it interesting... Spatchcock the turkey for fast, even cooking and enjoy!Serve the turkey with black beans, coconut rice and a big dollop of Jerk Pineapple Salsa! You can make this bright and flavorful salsa with items fresh from the refrigerator or quickly char the pineapple and peppers on a very hot grill first to sear the edges. Be sure not to overcook! Get the pieces on and off the grill in just a couple of minutes to cook the outside but preserve the fresh texture and flavor.
Learn moreCuban-Spiced Pork with Mojo Sauce
This Cuban spiced pork is an easy recipe for the slow cooker as summer slides into fall, when the comfort of a warm roast starts to sound appealing, but you're not quite ready to let go of the bright flavors of citrus and fresh herbs. Our Cuban Spice seasons the meat with cumin, oregano and orange for deep layers of flavor, with lime, orange and mint adding sunny flavors to the sauce. Serve alongside black beans and rice for a hearty meal or a green salad for lighter fare.
Learn moreMojo
This Mojo recipe from Cuba!: Recipes and Stories from a Cuban Kitchen by Dan Goldberg is for garlic-lovers, but one of our regular customers described the Mojo sauce of his youth as having a fair amount more citrus. Either way, this sauce will become a favorite and you'll find excuses to use it. (Seriously. Make a double batch, as you will put it on everything!! It's great on seafood, rice, veggies...)From the Author: "Mojo is one of the primary flavoring ingredients in Cuba. At its most basic it's composed of garlic, citrus juice, oregano, and oil. Bottled sour orange juice is common throughout the Caribbean, but if you have trouble sourcing it, regular orange juice with added lime juice is a good substitute. Sunflower oil is the most common fat in Cuba, aside from lard and butter, but in this recipe we're using olive oil to further enhance the flavor of mojo-dressed recipes such as baked fish, fried plantains, and grilled chicken."
Learn moreHavanese Pork Loin (with White Rice)
Cuba is a vibrant, bold and colorful country that is full of life. Fascinated by its people and their endlessly delicious home-cooked cuisine, friends Dan Goldberg and Andrea Kuhn have been visiting this hypnotic country for the past five years. Dan, an award-winning photographer and Andrea, an acclaimed prop stylist and art director, along with renowned food writer Jody Eddy, bring the best of Cuban food to home kitchens. Trying any of these delicious dishes will make any meal a memorable one, especially if you make this Havanese Pork Loin.From the Author: "This recipe sounds complicated and luxurious but it's actually a breeze to prepare. It's one to keep in mind when you want to impress your guests without having to fret over a complicated recipe. Consider it the grown-up version of pork and beans, Cuban style, with a little Chinese influence thrown in for good measure. The secret is to keep spooning the marinade over the pork as it cooks, allowing it to absorb until it finally transforms into a sticky glaze--a "can't get enough of it" kind of finish."
Learn moreBajan Chicken Salad
We are always looking for new and fun salad ideas, and Salmagundi: A Celebration of Salads from around the World has a wide variety to try. This Bajan chicken salad, a recipe from the book, combines allspice, cumin, paprika and oregano with a mix of fresh, bright-tasting ingredients for a unique and refreshing flavor.From the Author: "Bajan food is a beguiling mix of Africa and India and the Caribbean. This recipe is a similar jumble—of all the lovely flavors that we sampled on our trip."
Learn moreTostadas de Higado de Pollo
What's that? Chicken Liver Toasts with Caramelized Onions, Mango and Watercress! This is one of the delicious bites included in Cocina Tropical: The Classic & Contemporary Flavors of Puerto Rico by Jose Santaella. We were excited about this recipe because it looked delicious, and used annatto seed — a spice with which many people are unfamiliar. Annatto is frequently used in Latin American and Caribbean countries to impart a natural color and mild, earthy flavor to foods. If you think you've never had it, it's also what makes some butters yellow and cheddar cheese orange.From the authors: Chopped chicken liver is one of those delicious recipes that is a bit of a throwback to the days of elegant cocktail hours and dinner parties with passed hors d'oeuvres. Pate and terrine are back in fashion, and this dish falls right into step with them. The richness of the velvety liver and the sweetness of the caramelized onions get a tangy tropical hit from the mango with a bit of peppery bite from the watercress garnish. Serve as is for a small plate appetizer or spread the liver on smaller crostini for a perfect party bite.
Learn moreRoselle-Rooibos Drink
Afro-Vegan by Bryant Terry is a staff favorite vegan cookbook that we always refer back to. And bonus? Every recipe has a song or book choice to go with it! Hibiscus tea is delicious, and we love finding new ways to use it.From Bryant Terry author of Afro-Vegan: "This drink is tart, sweet, and floral and has become one of my favorite summertime beverages. In this recipe, I call for fresh pineapple to give the drink texture and vibrant tropical flavor, but when my editor, Melissa Moore, brought me a bag of fresh peaches from the farm of Mas Masumoto, I peeled, sliced, and used them in place of the pineapple. It was off the chain! I think any other stone fruit, such as nectarines or cherries, would also work well and I encourage you to experiment with adding them. For a late fall or winter spin, serve this drink warm, omitting the fresh fruit and boiling the tea and hibiscus with 1/4 teaspoon whole Cloves in a nod to how roselle is prepared in Trinidad and Tobago."
Learn moreCaribbean Spice Grilled Salsa
Fresh pineapple tastes of a wild summer, its tropical sweetness tempered by raucous acidity. Our favorite way to tame the fruit is to cook it slowly until the pale yellow becomes a rich gold and the sugars take center stage, as in this grilled salsa.Our Caribbean Spice, with the richness of allspice berries, is the perfect blend for this salsa. A bit of extra cumin adds an intense savory note that’s perfect for grilling. The smoky flavor from the grill counterpoints the sweetness of the pineapple and tomato perfectly, leaving you with a well balanced and delicious side for tortilla or plantain chips, as well as chicken or fish.
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