Carifest Recipes

The Carifest organizers shared some of their favorite recipes with Aquatennial. Check out some of these incredible dishes and offerings as you celebrate the 2020 Aquatennial.

Jerk Chicken

Ingredients

1 whole chicken, separated into pieces

2 Scotch bonnet peppers, seeds removed

1 tablespoon salt, or to taste

1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

1 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon nutmeg

4 cloves garlic

1 ½ teaspoon thyme, dried

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

½ cup scallions, chopped

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 lemon, sliced into 4-6 pieces

Preparation

Set chicken aside

Using food processor, blend remaining ingredients into a paste (except for lemon slices)

Rub all over chicken

Grill chicken over medium or medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until thoroughly cooked

Serve with lemon slices

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Jamaican Dumplings

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1 tablespoons butter

½ cup cold water

Olive oil, vegetable oil, or grape-seed oil for frying, enough to fill skillet halfway

Preparation

Combine dry ingredients into a large bowl. Stir butter until flour mixture is in crumbles no longer than peas.

Mix in water 1 tablespoon at a time, just until the mixture is wet enough to form into a ball. The dough should have a firm consistency. Knead briefly and let rest for 5-10 minutes.

Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until hot. Break off pieces of dough and shape into patties—similar to flat biscuits.

Place just enough of the dumplings in the pan so they are not crowded.

Fry on each side until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side.

Remove from pan and drain on paper towels before serving.

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Frittata

Ingredients

1 garlic clove, minced

¼ cup onions, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil

½ cup freshly chopped tomato

¾ cup fresh spinach, torn into large pieces

3 whole eggs, plus 2 egg whites (or egg substitution of your choosing)

¼ cup whole milk

¼ teaspoon sea salt

1/3 cup finely chopped basil leaves

½ cup feta cheese

Apple Cider Dressing

Apple cider vinegar, like Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar

Olive Oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional: add minced garlic and shallots

or Simple Lemon Dressing

1 lemon, juice

3 cloves garlic, minced

4-5 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Pinch of red pepper flakes

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In cast-iron skillet, sauté garlic and onions in olive oil or coconut oil until onion is soft

Add tomatoes and spinach, allowing spinach to wilt

In a large bowl, whisk eggs, egg whites, milk, salt and pepper together

After whisking, add egg mixture and chopped basil to the pan

Sprinkle with feta cheese

When edges of frittata start to firm against pan, remove from stovetop and plan in oven until fully cooked, about 10 minutes

Serve with side salad and apple cider vinaigrette or simple lemon dressings

For apple cider and simple lemon salad dressings, mix all ingredients and whisk until combined. From cider dressing, desired yield is 1 part vinegar and 2 parts olive oil

Optional: you can also make individual servings in ramekins.

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Brown Rice and Salmon Bowl

Ingredients

1 salmon fillet (1 pound)

1 head cauliflower, florets quartered, cut into bite-size pieces

1 whole leek (discard outer layer, then clean and slice)

Olive oil for drizzling, plus 1 tablespoon for sautéing

Salt and pepper, to taste

Cumin, to taste

1 bunch beet greens, julienned, stems removed

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons coconut oil

3 cups cooked brown rice

½ avocado

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

Spread cauliflower and leeks on roasting pan, drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, cumin

Roast for 40 minutes, loosening cauliflower with wooden spoon halfway through to prevent sticking

Salt salmon, divide into 3 pieces, set aside

Saute beet greens in olive oil, add minced garlic

Cook salmon in a frying pan with coconut oil until pink in the middle

Scoop cooked brown rice into bowl, cover with roasted cauliflower and leeks

Place salmon and beet greens on top

Open avocado and slice lengthwise into pieces for garnish

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Caribbean Salsa

Ingredients

1 cup fresh, firm mango, diced

1 cup fresh pineapple, diced

Optional: 1 cup fresh, firm papaya, diced

¼ cup fresh jalapeno, minced and seasoned, or to taste

¼ cup red onion, minced

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

½ tablespoon salt, kosher or sea

1 tablespoon freshly chopped cilantro

1 cup firm Roma tomatoes, diced and seeded

¼ cup cucumber, diced and seeded

Hempseed

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and generously sprinkle hempseed before serving

Enjoy with chips and fresh green salad

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Pineapple Lemongrass Cooler

Ingredients

½ ripe pineapple

2 bananas

½ cup (120ml) water

Three 4-inch (10cm) pieces of lemongrass

Simple Syrup

¼ cup (60ml) vodka, optional

Preparation

Place the pineapple, bananas. Water, and lemongrass in a blender and blend on high until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth. Taste and add simple syrup, if necessary. Stir in the optional vodka. Serve on the rocks.

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Creole Sauce

Ingredients

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons (85g) vegan margarine

6 tomatoes, thinly sliced

2 onions, thinly sliced

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon mild paprika

1 teaspoon Madras curry powder

2 cups (480ml) water

2 teaspoons tomato paste

2 teaspoons onion powder

1 ½ to 2 teaspoons pink or sea salt, or to taste

1 to 2 teaspoons Bajan Pepper Sauce

1 teaspoon commercial pepper sauce with ½ teaspoon American-style mustard

1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley

Preparation

Heat the margarine in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the tomatoes and onions and sauté until the tomatoes begin to release their juice and the onions start to become translucent

Add the garlic, raise the heat to medium, and cook for 3 minutes

Sirin the pepper, paprika, and curry powder, then sir in the water and tomato paste. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the onion powder, salt, pepper sauce, and parsley. Serve hot.

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Plantain Balls

Ingredients

1 overripe plantain

2 tablespoons chopped Holiday “Ham”

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ cup (30g) medium breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes

1 tablespoon wheat germ

¼ teaspoon pink or sea salt

Large pinch of mild paprika

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a baking sheet.

Mash the plantain. Sir in the vegan ham, cinnamon, and cayenne. Separately, combine the breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast, wheat germ, salt, and paprika and mix well. Put the bread crumb mixture on a plate.

Roll the plantain mixture into walnut-sized balls using a heaping teaspoon to portion out the mixture. Roll them in the breading to coat evenly, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes, until golden brown, turning once during the cooking process.

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Curry Sauce

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegan margarine

½ onion, minced

1 to 2 tablespoons mince celery

1 small bay leaf

1 tablespoon Madras curry powder

1 tablespoon fine cornmeal or corn flour

1/3 cup (80 ml) water

½ teaspoon pink or sea salt

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

1 ½ teaspoons fresh lime juice

Preparation

Heat the margarine in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and bay leaf, turn the heat down to medium-low, and sauté for about 5 minutes, until the onion is translucent.

Add the curry powder, cornmeal, and water and whisk briskly. Stir in the salt and ginger, raise the heat to medium, and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thick. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice.