Chorai Bhagi (Jamaican Callaloo) with Stewed Chicken
Important! (save the hate)… I posted this recipe within the “Vegetarian” category as well. As explained in the video below, you may leave out the stewed chicken should you prefer for a fully vegan/vegetarian dish. With an abundance of Chorai Bhagi (aka, Jamaican Callaloo or Spinach) in my garden this year, naturally I could could not allow any to go to waste.
Photo by Chris De La Rosa
You’ll Need…
2 lbs Chorai Bhagi (prepared)
1 medium onion (sliced)
7 cloves garlic (smashed)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
2 tablespoon pure coconut cream
Leftover Stewed Chicken (Caribbean style)
Important! If doing this recipe gluten free, please go through the full list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. I used scotch bonnet pepper in the recipe, but you can leave it out should SPICY not be your thing. Additionally, you can use any spicy pepper you like or can access. Should you wish to add some diced tomato to the dish, it will add a lovely subtle flavor to things.
Photo by Chris De La Rosa
Wash and trim the leaves off the stems (I didn’t use any stems this time, but you can), then roll the Chorai into bundles you can handle and cut into ribbons 1 centimeter thick.
Photo by Chris De La Rosa
Heat the oil in a deep pot on a medium flame, then add the prepared Choria Bhagi to the pot and stir well.
Photo by Chris De La Rosa
Add the salt, black pepper, garlic and onion. Stir well!
Photo by Chris De La Rosa
It’s now time to add the coconut cream and scotch bonnet pepper should you decide to have the dish with a kick. Yes I kept the seeds.. trim off the seeds and white membrane around the seeds to control some of the heat (discard).
Photo by Chris De La Rosa
Remember to wash your hands with soap and water after handling such HOT pepper.
Photo by Chris De La Rosa
Place the lid on the pot and cook for 10 minutes. It will wilt and lessen in amounts.
Photo by Chris De La Rosa
Add the leftover Stewed Chicken, stir well and place the lid back on for another 5 minutes.
Photo by Chris de La Rosa
Here’s when you personalize things to your liking. Taste and adjust the salt and you need to decide if it’s as ‘cooked’ as you like. In my case I removed the lid and cooked it for a further 3 minutes to burn off the liquid at the bottom of the pot.
Luckily I had some Sada Roti in the fridge my mom sent us home with the last time we visited, but it’s also EXCELLENT with Rice or dumplings.
Source: www.caribbeanpot.com
