Callaloo Jamaican Style – A vibrant, healthy and fresh way of cooking leafy vegetables. Quick, easy and delicious!
Are you bored with spinach, or kale or looking for a new way to prepare it? Here is a vibrant and fresh way of making kale, spinach and definitely using this Amazing vegetable- Callaloo.
If you have never heard of Callaloo, I would say it is what some West Africans Countries call greens. That’s the only way, I ever heard anyone call these leafy vegetables until, I moved to the United States. And there it is disguised as Callaloo. Also widely known in the Islands as Callaloo in the Islands.
For those that are curious and want to know more it belongs to the Amaranth family.
Be on the look out! It is one of those vegetables that easily gets mixed up with other vegetables – especially cocoyam /Malanga leaves and even spinach.
I am super excited that it is readily available in most Caribbean Markets, and quite a few other markets . There is even an Indian market – walking distance from my place, that sells fresh Callaloo. Yeah, lucky me!
What I enjoy most is the different ways you can whip it up; in stews, soups, stir fry and even with rice – it is quite versatile.
Here it is prepared- Jamaican style, slightly steamed, quick, easy . Spiced up with , thyme, garlic and smoked paprika- Simple. And Simply delicious! Convenient for weeknight meal.
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Switch out the bacon for smoked turkey, chicken or omit completely , for a vegan meal.
Although Callaloo is usually serve with dumplings and boiled plantains, I prefer pan-fried plantains- a healthy variation on the usual fried plantains . Plantains are deep-fried in a significant amount of oil. This version is equally as delicious, without the excessive calories.
Enjoy!
Callaloo Jamaican Style - A vibrant, healthy and fresh way of cooking leafy vegetables. Quick, easy and delicious!
- 1 bunch of fresh Callaloo kale, collard greens (about 11/2 pound)
- 2 thick bacon strips cut in pieces
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 medium onion
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 sprig of fresh thyme
- 1 fresh tomato
- 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3- 4 ripe plantains
- cooking spray- or very little cooking oil
- Salt and pepper optional
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Cut leaves and soft stems from the callaloo branches, them soak in a bowl of cold water for about 5-10 minutes or until finish with prep.
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Proceed to slicing the onions, mincing the garlic and dicing the tomatoes. Set aside
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Remove callaloo from water cut in chunks.
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Place bacon on saucepan and cook until crispy. Then add onions, garlic, thyme, stir for about a minute or more
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Add tomatoes; scotch bonnet pepper, smoked paprika. Sauté for about 2-3 more minutes.
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Finally add vegetable, salt, mix well, and steamed for about 6-8 minutes or until leaves are tender. Add a tiny bit of water as needed. Adjust seasonings and turn off the heat.
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Using a sharp knife cut both ends off the plantain. This will make it easy to grab the skin of the plantains. Slit a shallow line down the long seam of the plantain; peel only as deep as the peel. Remove plantain peel by pulling it back.
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Slice the plantain into medium size lengthwise slices and set aside.
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Coat a large frying pan with cooking oil spray. Spray the tops of the plantains with a generous layer of oil spray and sprinkle with salt, freshly ground pepper.
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Let the plantains "fry" on medium heat, shaking the frying pan to redistribute them every few minutes.
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As the plantains brown, continue to add more cooking oil spray, salt and pepper (if needed) until they have reached the desired color and texture.
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Remove and serve with callaloo
Girl, you are making me homesick. I want some callaloo NOW!
Sara, I hear you!
Whoa, I have NEVER heard of callaloo! I wonder if they have it at my international market.. I am ALWAYS up for some new greens!
Cheryl, they might just have it . Be sure to ask the Store Manager .
It’s the best.
Never heard of callaloo before… you learn something new every day! Definitely going to be trying the recipe out, I am always looking for new recipes to use Kale!
I love collard greens so I would love to try callaloo. It is so interesting because the way that you prepare callaloo is similar the way Brazilians prepare sauteed Collard Greens a la Mineira with bacon and garlic. Like ours, your dish has soul!!!!
Thanks Denise- it definitely has soul.
I love love love this method of preparing kale. I’ve cooked this twice already 🙂
You can come and cook for me anytime!
I had Callaloo when I was in Jamaica.. It was so good, I decided to eat it whenever they served it. I don’t care for spicy foods, and not really fond of spinach, so I am going to try to fix this with kale, garlic, onion, etc.
Wow. This looks amazing! I will definitely modify it for our vegan challenge next month. Those plantains look de-li-cious.
Thanks Amber!
I think Callaloo is the name of the dish itself which is served in Jamaica? The dish “Callaloo” uses leafy greens – normally being amaranth, taro, or Xanthosoma. Granted, amaranth is also called “Callaloo”. So I’m confused.
What are you confused about the name or the dish?
The actual plants is known as Callaloo, pair it with anything and it becomes ,e.g. Callaloo and cod Fish so it is versatile can be eaten by itself also. In Trinidad they have a dish named callaloo which is made from a different greens
Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
Need your Callaloo
Smiles
You can have it!!
Do you take out the scotch bonnet pepper before serving? I see you put it in whole…
It depends to whom am serving it to! Some people like to eat it and some don’t. But I always keep it just in case.
This was delicious! Everyone had secounds! Two things suprised me with this recipe: Using collard greens it made a lot more that 3 to 4 servings. Second, the Scotch Bonnet pepper did not spice up the dish the way I expected. I may cut it next time. –Will definintly have again!! Thank you!
Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to provide me with feedback . Greatly appreciated.
I made this for a friend today. I couldn’t find the pepper it called for, so I used a habenero pepper. I don’t think it was nearly the same, but it still tasted pretty good. I can’t wait to see what my friend things (she’s been craving callaloo).
Awesome! Can’t wait either. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts
I bought it for the first time at a health store, just because it had nothing else except lettuce and pineapple. They call them (callaloo) vleeta in Greece. Now I went with my husband at his friends farm and they give me a huge hug of callaloo to take home. I am so happy! I just fry onions, garlic in a small amount of coconut oil and put in callaloo some tomatoes and eat it. I tries raw but dam, it’s bitter as raw. And i wonder if it helps with iron deficiency anemia because it does remind me of spinach. I will go look.
Thanks fro sharing your version with us. Feel free to share your findings with us. Thanks!