Pot Lesson In Grenada’s History
When describing the cultural history of the Caribbean island of Grenada, it’s the cooking pot rather than the melting pot that springs to mind. And there’s no better culinary metaphor than “oil down,” the peculiarly named national dish of Grenada, a mix of meats and vegetables.
Canada Goose sale Nearly every ingredient in this hearty stew has a unique origin and story to tell: For instance, callaloo, a leafy vegetable somewhat similar in taste to spinach, and the same plant’s root, known as dasheen, are indigenous to the Caribbean and were cultivated by Grenada’s earliest Amerindian inhabitants. Canada Goose sale
Beginning in the 16th century, bananas came from Asia via European explorers and settlers. https://www.goosecanada.ca A few centuries later, slaves from West Africa were brought here to work in the sugarcane fields, and with them came their tradition of one pot meals.
canada goose Pig snout and tails were scraps from the plantation master’s house. Salted fish (originally cod) imported from Canada was meant as a cheap source of canada goose outlet ontario food for the slaves. So was breadfruit, that starchy, nutrient packed fruit famously associated with the 1789 “Mutiny on the Bounty.” This South Pacific staple arrived in the Caribbean on a subsequent expedition led by the hapless Capt. William Bligh. Decades later, turmeric known locally (and confusingly) as “saffron” was introduced by South Asian immigrants, who themselves were meant to fill the labor vacuum left by emancipation in the canada goose outlet authentic 1830s. canada goose
Canada Goose online Today, oil canada goose outlet uk down which gets its name from the layer of coconut oil and meat juices that settle to the bottom of the cooking pot is a staple at the family table and at special gatherings, during the annual Carnival bacchanal or simply as a weekend feast. Canada Goose online
“Oil down is a social thing,” says Simeon Cornwall, a television producer who has researched the history of the dish for Grenada’s National Museum. “If you’re cooking oil down, it’s because you have a group of people gathering to eat.”
uk canada goose At such gatherings, everyone brings something to put in the pot, says Karen Hall, the owner of Patrick’s Local Home Style Restaurant near the capital, St. George’s. At home, it’s usually a woman making oil down; however, much like a backyard barbecue in the United States, “at a block party or a beach party, really whenever there’s a bit of excitement, the men like to take over the cooking,” Hall says with a grin. uk canada goose
buy canada goose jacket Even canada goose outlet mall so, the matriarchal line is where the oil down meme gets transmitted. Esther Benoit, a chef at the Dodgy Dock restaurant on Grenada’s south side, says for her, it’s about the way her mother used to make it. “Even today, as a professional cook, I am still influenced by how she made it,” Benoit says. Some of her oldest memories of oil down the dish are about the sibling rivalry with her sister “over which of us got the most dumplings,” she says, referring to the dense balls of spindle shaped dough that are a staple of canada goose outlet in new york many Caribbean soups and stews. For example, today some canada goose sale uk Grenadians prefer to leave out the lesser parts of the pig, she says. “Conch and crab are thrown in the pot in some canada goose outlet germany families, and there’s also a vegetarian version.” buy canada goose jacket
canada goose factory sale Preparation, though, is not for the faint of heart. It takes a village, as demonstrated by a neighborhood gathering I recently attended in the Grenadian town of Belmont. canada goose factory sale
It all begins with identifying ripe breadfruit and knocking it off the tree with a long stick, followed by lots of peeling, chopping and kneading of dumpling dough, culminating in the minimum one hour of cooking time. It can take up most of a morning or afternoon. However, time isn’t the only thing consumed: At the feast I witnessed, the whole process was fueled by liberal doses of high octane white rum.
canada goose store Unlike most stews, in which the ingredients get a thorough mixing during the cooking process, a pot of oil down is “packed.” Exactly how to “pack the pot” is a matter of taste and tradition, as well as a subject of occasional controversy. Everyone has a different order and method, but usually the breadfruit and meat goes on the bottom, most of the vegetables in the middle, and the callaloo leaves and dumplings on top. The ingredients simmer in situ. canada goose store
A few caveats about this dish: An American palate might be put off by the amount of canada goose outlet florida starch. Oil down could also strike some as a bit salty, but eliminating the sodium rich fish (or pre soaking it) will likely rectify that.
And unless you live in a town that has a well stocked international grocery, you will probably have some difficulty finding callaloo and dasheen. For callaloo, you can substitute spinach and the dasheen can simply be left out alterations that even many Grenadians will grudgingly approve. For breadfruit, yams or potatoes are a decent substitution. The bananas should be green.
buy canada goose jacket cheap But still, what about that name that sounds more like a sports massage than a comfort food? buy canada goose jacket cheap
“When tourists see it on the menu, they always ask if it’s something that has a lot canada goose outlet in montreal of oil,” restaurant owner Hall says with a laugh. “I admit, it’s a tough name.”
canadian goose jacket Oil Down This is a fairly simple version of oil down, based on a recipe on the official website of the Government of Grenada.8 10 dasheen canada goose outlet (calallo) leaves canadian goose jacket.