Callaloo soup is a traditional and national dish in Dominica that’s easy to make and flavorful. It’s mostly prepared during national events, holidays, or family gatherings. It contains vegetables and dumplings made from cornmeal and flour.
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As a vegetarian, you can make callaloo soup without the meat or crabs. However, you can use alternative proteins suitable for vegetarians.
While it’s a Dominican dish, many islands in the Caribbean, like Trinidad, prepare callaloo soup in their version. Add celery, hot pepper, habanero, green bananas, and vegetables to make a vegan soup like the recipe from other islands in the Caribbean.
Using the guide below, try this flavorful callaloo soup, packed with nutrient-rich veggies and a blend of spices, for a satisfying and nourishing meal.
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How to Prepare Traditional Callaloo Soup
Ingredients
- ½ tbsp salt
- 4 cups water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ teaspoon curry
- 2 onions, chopped
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1 ½ lbs smoked pork
- Bell pepper seasoning
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Fresh thyme, a handful
- Fresh parsley, a handful
- 1 cup pumpkin, steamed
- 2 scallion/chive, chopped
- Callaloo bunch or spinach, chopped
Ingredients for Dumpling:
- 2 cups flour
- Salt to taste
- 3-4-1 cup water
- ¼ cup cornmeal
Instructions
- Warm the non-stick saucepan and pour in the oil. Saute the fresh thyme, parsley, bell pepper seasoning, onions, and garlic for two minutes.
- Add the chopped callaloo or spinach and stir it to cook for a minute.
- Pour in the can of coconut milk and two cups of water. Add the steamed pumpkin.
- Sprinkle a dash of curry powder, black pepper, and salt to taste. Allow it to boil on low heat while you mix the ingredients for the dumpling.
- Mix the cornmeal, flour, a pinch of salt and some water. Mix it to achieve consistency. Allow the dough to sit for 10 minutes. Then make small balls or dumplings.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the soup to smooth and thicken it.
- Add the smoked pork, cover the pot, and allow it to boil for 20-30 minutes
- Add the dumplings to the callaloo soup and simmer low heat for 15 minutes
- Turn off the heat and allow the callaloo soup to cool for 5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy your homemade callaloo soup with some dessert!
Tips for Preparing Callaloo Soup
- You can use craps in addition to the smoked meat or fish
- Some residents add okra to their callaloo soup. If you’re a fan of okra
- Be careful when using salt because smoked pork has salt, as does most smoked fish or meat.
- Omit the cornmeal from the ingredients for the dumpling if you’re not a fan of it.
- It’s best to use smoked pork with bones to achieve the flavor.
- Also, you can choose not to blend or use the immersion blender in the soup
- Serve callaloo soup with bread or white rice if you’re not using dumplings.
- Dasheen leaves, or tania traditional leaves in Dominica, make perfect replacements for callaloo or spinach leaves.
- As a vegetarian, you can make callaloo soup without the meat or crabs. However, you can use alternative proteins, suitable for vegetarians.
- In addition to the flour dumplings, you can add chopped yams, plantains, or unripe bananas to the callaloo soup.
- For a spicy feel, add two or three scotch bonnet peppers.
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Video credit: FRUGALLY T
She is a Dominican who shares island cuisines, DIY projects, and mon hacks on her YouTube channel.
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Dominica Callaloo Soup
Ingredients
- ½ tbsp salt
- 4 cups water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ teaspoon curry
- 2 onions chopped
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1 ½ lbs smoked pork
- Bell pepper seasoning
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- Fresh thyme a handful
- Fresh parsley a handful
- 1 cup pumpkin steamed
- 2 scallion/chive chopped
- Callaloo bunch or spinach chopped
Instructions
- Warm the non-stick saucepan and pour in the oil. Saute the fresh thyme, parsley, bell pepper seasoning, onions, and garlic for two minutes.
- Add the chopped callaloo or spinach and stir it to cook for a minute.
- Pour in the can of coconut milk and two cups of water. Add the steamed pumpkin.
- Sprinkle a dash of curry powder, black pepper, and salt to taste. Allow it to boil on low heat while you mix the ingredients for the dumpling.
- Mix the cornmeal, flour, a pinch of salt and some water. Mix it to achieve consistency. Allow the dough to sit for 10 minutes. Then make small balls or dumplings.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the soup to smooth and thicken it.
- Add the smoked pork, cover the pot, and allow it to boil for 20-30 minutes
- Add the dumplings to the callaloo soup and simmer low heat for 15 minutes
- Turn off the heat and allow the callaloo soup to cool for 5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy your homemade callaloo soup with some dessert!
Video
Nutrition
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