This fast growing, robust plant is Jamaica’s dark, leafy green of choice. It is one of the few edible plants native to the island that has retained its popularity into the 21st century. Callaloo is prepared as an entrée or side dish in homes and restaurants.
( via )
Bright green, lush callaloo leaves are shredded and sautéed with salted cod, garlic, onions, scotch bonnet pepper and tomatoes. The warm salad is served up beside boiled or fried dumplings, boiled yams or bananas and fried plantain for a welcomed breakfast. Without the cod, callaloo accompanies various meats, seafood and stews on lunch and dinner menus.
Often referred to as “Jamaican Spinach”, callaloo retains a hardier texture after cooking. The leaves have a pleasant salty and slightly bitter taste. The name “callaloo” is derived from the American Spanish word “calulu”; in reference to a soup that utilized greens as its main ingredient. Until the late 1900’s, callaloo was in fact best known as the chief ingredient in Jamaican pepper pot soup.
The plant appears in the historical records of the island from as early as 1740 and seems to have been a delicacy for enslaved Africans and the planter class alike. The herb has been celebrated throughout the centuries for its healthful properties and is traditionally sought to ‘purge the system’.
With such a wholesome reputation, it seems only natural that the plant would become popular among proponents of a meatless diet. Callaloo is a favourite in the ‘ital’ cooking of Rastafarians; an indigenous religious movement. The plant is often cultivated and marketed by Rastafarians.
Callaloo is ready for harvest in just six weeks after planting and is enjoyed throughout the year. It is found abundantly in produce markets and at roadside vendors. If you like your vegetables, you will enjoy our favourite greens with your Jamaican meal.
Tags: callaloo, caribbean food, caribbean vegetables, ital food, Jamaica, jamaican callaloo, jamaican fare, jamaican food, jamaican vegetables, rastafarian food, taste jamaica, vegetarian caribbean food, vegetarian food, vegetarian jamaican food
