8 Delicious Caribbean Recipes Made Easy

Trying new cuisines can sometimes be daunting. Here are 8 Caribbean recipes made easy to help make being adventurous a little less troubling.

Spicy Jerk Prawn Tacos 

 A Caribbean twist on a Mexican dish.

Cook time: 15 mins    

Serves: 4

What you’ll need: 

• 300g of raw peeled king prawns 
• 1 1/2 tbsp of jerk chicken paste or powder
• Can of black beans, drained 
• 1/2 red onion, sliced 
• 8 taco shells 
• 2 Gem lettuces, shredded 
• A handful of fresh coriander, chopped 

Method: 

1. Stir the prawns and jerk paste together in a bowl and set aside.
2. Tip the beans into a bowl along with the onion and coriander, Warm the taco shells following pack instructions.
3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the prawns and cook for 2-3 mins or until cooked through.
4. To build the tacos, start with a handful of lettuce, followed by the bean salad, then top with the prawns. 

Jerk Chicken 

Traditional Jamaican jerk chicken. Perfect for a summers evening. 

Cook: 30 mins 

Serves: 6 

What you’ll need: 

• 12 Chicken thighs 
• 1/2 a lime 
• 1/2 an onion
• Chopped spring onions
• 3 garlic cloves 
• Tbsp of thyme 
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce 
• 3 tbsp of brown sugar 
• 3 scotch bonnet chillis (if you’re hardcore)

Method:

1. To make the jerk marinade, combine chopped spring onions,  garlic cloves, onion, 3 scotch bonnet chillies thyme juice of lime, soy sauce and brown sugar 
2. Taste the jerk mixture for seasoning – and more salt, chilli or sugar to reach the preferred taste 
3. Make a few slashes in the chicken thighs and pour the marinade over the meat, rubbing it into all the crevices. Cover and leave to marinate for a few hours or even overnight the fridge.
4. When ready to cook, heat to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the chicken pieces in a roasting tin with 1 halved lime and cook for 45 mins until tender and cooked through.

Rice and Peas 

This Caribbean recipe goes perfectly with jerk chicken, and almost anything else. 

Cook: 30 

Serves: 4 

What you’ll need: 

• 200g of basmati rice 
• Can of coconut milk 
• 2 cans of kidney beans, drained 

Method:

1. Rinse 200g basmati rice in plenty of cold water, then tip it into a large saucepan
2. Add coconut milk
3. Season with salt, add 300ml cold water and set over high heat. Once the rice begins to boil, turn it down to a medium heat, cover and cook for 10 mins.
4. Add two 410g cans drained kidney beans to the rice, then cover with a lid. Leave off the heat for 5 mins until all the liquid is absorbed.

Rum Punch 

Quick n easy to rustle up, but really packs a punch. 

Cook: 5mins

Serves: a whole heap of people

What you’ll need: 

• 2 1/2 cups of pineapple juice 
• 2 1/2 cups of orange juice 
• 1 cup of rum liqeour (ie Malibu)
• 1 cup of white rum (ie Bacardi) 
• 1 cup of dark rum (ie Captin Morgan) 
• 1/4 fresh lime juice 
• 3 tbsp of brown sugar 

Method:

1.  Pour it all in a large mixing bowl.

That’s literally it. 

Bonus tip: add some fresh fruit to garnish

Exotic Avocado Salad 

A Caribbean recipe perfect for a fresh and fruity lunch.

Cook time: 20mins

Serves: 2

What you’ll need: 

• 1 ripe papaya or mango 
• 1 ripe avocado
• A salad bag 
• A handful of fresh mint 
• Juice of half a lime 
• Tsp of olive oil 

Method:

1. Peal and chop the mango or papaya and place in large mixing bowl. 
2. Cut avocado into small chunks and add to bowl. Pour salad bag into the bowl. 
3. Chop the mint and sprinkle on top 
4. Dress the salad with lime juice and olive oil. 
5. Toss  then add salt and pepper to taste. 

Macaroni Pie

A Caribbean take on an American classic. 

See Also

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Cook: 40mins

Serves: 4

What you’ll need: 

• 2 cups of macaroni 
• 2 eggs 
• 3 1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese 
• 1/4 tbsp of pepper
• 2 1/2 cups of evaporated milk 
• Salt to taste 

Method:

1. Heat oven to 350F/175C/Gas mark 3
2. Cook macaroni to package instructions, once cooked, drain and set aside 
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs until fluffy. Add milk, pepper and salt. 
4. Stir in 3 cups of cheese and the cooked macaroni 
5. Pour mixture into baking dish and top with the left over 1/2 cup of cheese 
6. Bake until firm for 35mins 

Sticky Jamaican Ginger Cake 

The Caribbean recipe for a perfect sweet and sticky dessert 

Cook: 1hr 15mins

Serves: 5

What you’ll need:

• 200g of plain flour 
• 3 tsp of ginger 
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 80g stem ginger, chopped
• 3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 125ml full fat milk
• 85g golden syrup
• 85g dark muscavado sugar
• 85g salted butter
• pinch salt
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 160C/320F/Gas mark 6
2. Sift the flour and spices into a bowl. Add the stem ginger and toss. Mix in the bicarbonate of soda  and the milk.
3. Heat the  golden syrup, sugar, salt and butter over a low heat, stirring regularly, until melted.
4. Add this to the flour and beat vigourously until smooth. Beat in the egg
5. Pour into a greased loaf tin and bake for 1 hr

Beef Patties

Typical Jamaican street food. A Caribbean recipe ideal for a little snack or light lunch. 

Cook: 1hr 20mins

Serves: 7

What you’ll need:

• Ready to roll shortcrust pastry 
• 500g minced beef
• 1 1/2 chopped onions
• 3 cloves of chopped garlic
• 1 tsp of black pepper
• 3 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 tsp of dried thyme
• 1 tsp of paprika
• 2 chopped tomatoes, cut in small pieces
• 2 Scotch bonnet chillies, finely chopped

Method:

1. Add oil to pot and heat. Add onions, garlic and mince. When mince is browned add curry powder, thyme, paprika, salt, black pepper and scotch bonnet pepper and cook for a further 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for a further 3 to 5 minutes until tomatoes are softened. 
2. Cut a piece of the pastry on a floured board and roll out flat. Pour the curried mince mixture onto half of the pastry and  fold the other half of the circle over
3. Press the joined edges with a fork. You should now have half a moon shape. Prick the patties with a fork (2 to 3 times) to allow the steam to release.
4. Place in a pre-heated oven (180 C / Gas 4) for about 20 to 30 minutes.

I just know you’re going to enjoy these as much as I do. Be sure to send us in some pics of your take on these delicious Caribbean recipes.

Feature Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/-YHSwy6uqvk