Vincy Callaloo Soup
Did you know that callaloo soup is a big meal in St. Vincent and the smaller islands?
This is by far my favorite soup. It is also one that we serve a lot in St. Vincent at functions, weddings and lots of other events. In weddings, they serve it with very small dumplings and pieces of other provision with tripe. For us, having callaloo soup is a must. I don't think I know of anyone that dislikes this soup.
For those that are curious why we call it soup in St. Vincent and not just callaloo like in Trinidad, it is because we cook it with provisions and dumplings and it is served as a meal. For e.g. I like my callaloo soup with white sweet yams, eddoes, dasheen, salt meat (beef is great), dumplings (coconut or any other, check out my blog post on coconut dumplings), sweet potatoes and of course one of my favorites, cassava. You also have the option to blend the callaloo bush first before cooking it or steaming it in a little bit of water first. Another important step in cooking callaloo soup is adding coconut milk to give it a best flavor. The dumplings are added last when cooking this soup.
Another point to note about callaloo soup is that it is very healthy and very high in iron. It is a very healthy meal and is best served hot. What I found is that callaloo tastes better when it is stale. I mean in other words if you eat it the next day after reheating, it tastes a lot better. That's just my opinion anyway.
Make sure to try out making callaloo soup, I am sure you and your family will love it. Make sure to try it next time as well if you're in St. Vincent at an event and they're serving it or even if is sold on the streets by the vendors.
Ingredients:
2 bundles callaloo (approximately 12 ozs.)
12 ozs. Beef (seasoned) salted meat
12 cups water
1 lb. tannia
1 tsp. garlic (minced)
½ cup chopped onion
1 tbsp. salt
½ cup chive
½ tsp. all purpose seasoning
¼ tsp. pepper
2 potatoes (white or sweet)
2 cups coconut milk (see below)
1 tbsp. butter (optional)dumplings other vegetables may be used.
N.B: You can also add other provisions such as Yam, Eddoes, Dasheen, Cassava to the recipe.
You can use crab, salt meat, beef, chicken to make this soup.
Method:
1. If using salt meat, cut up and soak for ¾ to 1 hour.
2. Boil with fresh meat for ½ hour.
3. Cut up dasheen leaves and wash thoroughly, then add to beef. Bring to the boil. Note if you are using blended callaloo, add beef to it and bring to a boil.
4. Add the other ingredients, adjust seasoning.
5. Cook until everything is soft.
6. Add dumplings 10 minutes before removing fire.
Coconut Milk Method- Soak dried grated coconut in hot water. Allow to stand until cool. Strain in fine sieve and squeeze out milk.
Rich food all organic ingredient locally grown.
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