How have you been enjoying my Hanukkah 2010 series so far? At the moment I seem to be having a little trouble with my RSS feed so if you have not received the posts so far you can check out the recipe roundup to date here. I first whipped up these curried potato mini latkes two years ago for an installment of my blogger friend Stephanie’s now defunct Blog Party series. Latkes are probably... 

It may seem odd to launch my Hanukkah menu series with an Asian noodle dish, but scratch the surface and you can see that it is not that far a stretch. Hanukkah after all commemorates a miracle of oil, and this is a fried dish. Not only that, but Judaism has had a long and fascinating history in China spanning well over a thousand years! Did it mention it also tastes great? The most intensive part... 

Hey everyone, here’s yet another installment of my ongoing Caribbean Beachcomber 1969 series. This year has all been about rediscovering vintage Caribbean Cookbooks and recipes from eras past. I’ve only scratched the tip of the iceberg so far, and am so excited about what 2011 will bring both for my kitchen, and this blog! This Broiled Banana Cake is so simple and yet it looks as though... 

So funny the things we take for granted sometimes. Growing up around plantains all my life it never occurred to me, until recently, that this fruit is almost completely unknown in many parts of the world! It was only through various conversations with people, primarily from Europe, and an episode of the recently concluded MasterChef US, that I realized that it was high time to shed a little light... 

The following is my take on a very popular Middle Eastern salad. The parsley and lemon juice give the carrots much needed brightness, while the cumin deepens all the flavours, creating an exotic side that complements most dishes In 2007 I submitted this recipe to Gluten Free By The Bay‘s “Cooking for Karina“, a food event that focused on cooking around her friend’s food... 

This Tridoshic dal comes from a cookbook that I’ve been using for years called The Ayurvedic Cookbook. I’m always interested in learning about the culinary traditions and philosophies of other cultures. Eastern cuisines in particular often fixates on the concept of warming and cooling foods. Maintaining a balance of the two within a meal, or strategically stimulating or calming ones... 

Don’t you just love vague ‘ethnic’ recipe titles? Coming from the American Turkey Federation I’m not sure exactly how ‘Arabian’ this recipe actually is, but despite that grey area all you really need to know is that it is very very good! Arabian Vegetable Medley SERVINGS: 16 SOURCE: National Turkey Federation INGREDIENTS: 2 Pounds eggplant, Cut in 1-1/2 cubes 2... 

1. Trinidad Doubles – recipe Trinidad doubles is the ultimate local street food. It’s cheap. Usually hot/warm. Hearty. Filling. You can view the recipe here. 2. Ciabatta Bread – recipe This recipe for Ciabatta Bread creates a very light loaf, soft and chewy on the inside with a thin crunchy rustic crust. I made it for my mom’s birthday and it was a huge hit. I hope... 

This post was originally published August 10, 2007. It has been updated once since then. This recipe is one of many to be found in mom’s homemade scrapbooks. She’s been compiling them since the 1970′s and as a toddler I would occupy myself on the kitchen floor by flipping through them, amazed at the colours and scribbles contained within. Some of that must have rubbed off on me... 

Sunset in Maraval Wednesday evening marks the start of Sukkot. Traditionally harvest foods are eaten, as well as dishes that feature stuffed components. It is the theme of stuffed foods that really shaped my menu this year. Omelettes (my new obsession), and stuffed baked apples hopefully won’t disappoint In the past I have traditionally made cabbage rolls, but I felt like ‘shaking... 

This post was originally published September 1, 2008. It has been updated once since then I call these my Independence Day Sugar Cakes because I have foregone the traditional colors of pink and white, for our national colours of red, white and black. Despite the name I dare say they’ll be great for Republic Day, any day of national celebration, heck, year-round! The results were so beautiful... 

In keeping with a ‘tradition’ that I began last year I am once again focusing on no-cook and ‘quick’ recipes for my ‘break-the-fast’ Yom Kippur menu. Cardamom Spiced Coffee Trinidad Saheena Open-Faced Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Sandwiches Crunchy Bran Muffins Not only does this approach relieve a lot of post-fasting stress and preparation on my part, it also... 

No-bake fudge? I had never heard of such a thing before and was skeptical that this recipe would actually work. But it did and the final result was very satisfying! The only thing I’m not sure of is whether the squares would stay firm at room temperature here in the tropics so I’ve kept them in the fridge. That way I don’t have anything to worry about. If you’re looking for... 

As promised, I am currently cooking my way through a 1969 Food issue of Caribbean Beachcomber. For much of this year I have been privately delving into older cookbooks, both West Indian in nature, as well as International. In many ways I have found that they have increased my love of cooking and my understanding of ingredients more than many contemporary publications. Many of the combinations and... 

I’ve been dreaming of mango lassi for some time now. Mango lassi was something I first discovered during my college years in the US and I haven’t had it since returning to Trinidad seven years ago. This rich cool, slightly tart, beverage is the perfect complement to spicy, fiery cuisines and is also hearty (and healthy) enough to be a satisfying shake all on its own. When our mango bounty... 

This post was originally published on January 29, 2009. It has been updated once since then. So here it is, right on the heels of my first Tuesdays with Dorie entry, my very first Daring Bakers challenge! I first learnt about Daring Bakers in 2006 shortly after starting this blog. Back then the pool of participants was quite small and invitation-only. I would read their entries and ooh and aah over... 

This meal came together relatively quickly. It is a classic one-pot dish based on veggies that are on ‘standby’ and tinned pantry staple. What gives it a little twist from other cobbler-style casseroles is the use of cornmeal as the crust. As I enter my 3rd year of preparing gluten-free meals where my mother is concerned I have come to have an even greater respect for cornmeal’s... 

One of the things that I love about operating Trinigourmet is the wealth of knowledge and experiences that readers bring to the table. Whether it’s commenting on other’s questions left in posts, participating in the #caribbeancooks hashtag on Twitter, or contributing to my Facebook presence, I am always left inspired. Case in point. Recently I asked fans of the Trinigourmet Facebook page,... 

Oiled down (also more commonly referred to as ‘oildown’) is one of those truly transcendent West Indian delights. As I wrote, in one of this blog’s first entries: “Oil Down, is a colloquial Caribbean name for any dish of starchy vegetables cooked in coconut milk until all the milk is absorbed and the ingredients have turned into a creamy mush (or have ‘oiled down’). The... 

July 5, 2010: Sometime between when this post was originally written in 2007 and now it appears Saveur Magazine selected this recipe as one of its ‘Best Of The Web‘, and Trinigourmet.com as one of its ‘Sites We Love’. I can’t explain how much this means to me as it has always been my hope and aim to disseminate Trinidadian cuisine to the wider world. It really makes the...