8 Caribbean Recipes That Have Made Me Feel At Home During Quarantine

Just because you can't be at the beach doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the Caribbean!

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Since COVID-19 has taken over my summer vacation, I have spent the last couple of months missing my home island of Grenada. As a result, I have been cheffing it up in the kitchen!

ABC / Via giphy.com

Check out these recipes for some of my favorite Caribbean delicacies. Get your spices and nutmeg ready, we're vacationing indoors this summer!

NBC / Via giphy.com

1. Beef Patties

Mickalia Forrester- Ewen

INGREDIENTS

Dough

2 Cups of flour

½ Teaspoon of sugar

1 Teaspoon of garlic powder

1 Teaspoon of salt

1 Tablespoon of turmeric or curry powder

½ Cup of cold butter in chunks

1 Cup of water

Beef Filling

1 Pack of ground beef

¼ Cup of water

Salt and pepper to taste

1 Teaspoon of each: curry powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, and thyme

One scotch bonnet pepper, 2 garlic cloves, 2 scallions, and one ¼ of a large onion, blended together

¼ Cup flour if necessary

1 Mixed egg

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 350°F. To make the dough, mix all of your dry ingredients together. Add the butter, then stir in the water until you create a ball of dough. Set it aside and start working on your beef filling. Season the beef with the dry seasonings and blended ingredients. In a frying pan over medium-high heat, cook the beef and add flour to create a thick structure. Once completed, flatten your dough to create 3-inch circular pieces. Use a spoon to add your beef filling. Don’t overfill — you’ll need space to close your dough! Fold over the dough and use a fork to flatten out the edges. Use the egg wash to cover your patties. Once this is done, bake them oven until they're crispy and brown!

2. Bun and Cheese

Mickalia Forrester- Ewen

INGREDIENTS

6 Ounces of stout beer

1 Teaspoon of browning 

½ Cup of brown sugar

¼ Cup of honey 

½ Tablespoon of molasses

1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract

3 Tablespoons of melted butter

1 Egg

1 Cup of dried cherries

½ Cup of raisins 

2 Cups of flour 

2 Teaspoons of baking powder

1 Teaspoon of salt

½ Tablespoon of cinnamon

½ Tablespoon of nutmeg

Cheese (any cheese you like)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Mix your dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately, then combine. Pour into a greased bread pan and bake in the oven for about one hour. After the bun cools down, slice it into pieces and serve with your cheese of choice!

3. Sweet Fried Plantains

Mickalia Forrester- Ewen

INGREDIENTS

2 ripe plantains

Frying oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Remove the peels from your plantains and slice the plantains into small pieces. In a frying pan, heat your oil on medium heat. Place the plantains in the pan and let them fry until brown on each side. Once cooked, feel free to add a seasoning of your choice for extra flavor!

4. Fish Cake

Mickalia Forrester- Ewen

INGREDIENTS

1 pound of saltfish (boiled and cleaned)

1 Cup of flour

2 Scallions (chopped)

3 Sweet peppers (chopped)

½ Onion (chopped)

1 Scotch bonnet pepper (chopped)

1 Tablespoon of baking powder 

Frying oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix all ingredients (except the oil) together to form a loose dough. In a frying pan, heat your oil over medium heat. Use a spoon to place portions of the dough in the pan. Let each side fry till brown on each side. Once cooked, get ready to chow down!

5. Coconut Bake

Mickalia Forrester- Ewen

INGREDIENTS

One coconut, grated or blended into thin places

4 cups of flour

Salt to taste

3 Tablespoons of baking powder

3 Tablespoons of sugar

½ Cup of shortening

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients to form a thick dough. Feel free to add water to soften hardened dough. Once formed, separate the dough into 6 inch round pieces. Place the dough in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes. Once finished, serve with cheese or fish cake!

6. Piña Colada

Mickalia Forrester- Ewen

INGREDIENTS

2 Cups of frozen pineapple

⅔ Cup of coconut milk 

Rum if needed

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend the pineapple and coconut to a frothy consistency. Place your drink in a fancy glass and add some rum if you're feeling saucy. Once finished, treat yourself!

7. Sorrel

Mickalia Forrester- Ewen

INGREDIENTS

2 Cups of dried natural sorrel

¼ Cups of fresh ginger sticks (grated)

1 cinnamon stick

3 Cups of Water

INSTRUCTIONS

Boil the 3 cups of water; when it starts to simmer add all the ingredients to the pot for 15 minutes. Let the sorrel soak overnight for a stronger flavor. The next day, strain the liquid and add ice. Once completed, feel free to add alcohol if you are feeling super saucy!

8. Cocoa Tea

Mickalia Forrester- Ewen

INGREDIENTS

2 Cocoa balls

4 Cups of water

3 Pinches of cinnamon

3 Pinches of nutmeg

1 Can of condensed milk

INSTRUCTIONS

Boil the 4 cups of water. Add the cocoa balls, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the boiling water. Once the cocoa balls have broken down into smaller pieces, strain your drink into a mug. Add condensed milk for a creamy and sweet taste! 

I hope you're hungry! Get ready to eat!