Monday, May 5, 2008

St. Lucia Cuisine

The cuisine of St Lucia is influenced by West Indian, Creole and French food. Popular dishes are pepper pot stew, callaloo soup and fried jackfish.

Shellfish and fish are caught daily. Salt fish is used in a number of recipes. Vegetables include cassava, dasheen (taro) and sweet potatoes. Breadfruit is also grown.

Fruits cultivated are bananas, coconuts, guavas, mangoes, papayas, passion fruit, pineapples and soursop.

Fresh fruit juices are available and alcoholic drinks, such as beer (Pitons) and rum (Bounty), are brewed locally. CLICK HERE to learn how to get paid to travel


Green Fig & Saltfish Pie



Ingredients

2 pounds green figs
1 pound saltfish
½ pound cheese
½ cup milk
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 sweet peppers
2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 onion sliced
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon bread crumbs

Method

Boil the green figs until tender. Peel and crush with fork while still hot and sprinkle with lime juice to prevent darkening.

Soak the fish in boiling water to remove most of the salt. Remove the skin and bones; shred fish. Press half of the crushed fig in a greased baking pie dish. Sprinkle ½ of shredded fish on fig.

Spread half of sweet peppers (cut into thin strips) onion, tomatoes, cheese and black pepper. Repeat layer - beginning with green fig and ending with grated cheese and black pepper. Top with milk and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

Bake in an oven at 340°C, for 30-40 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is golden brown.