How to Make Jamaican Callaloo: Delicious and Nutritious (2024)

JERK TAVERNJune 18, 2023

Callaloo is a traditional Jamaican dish that is loved by many. It is made with the leaves of the amaranth plant, which is also known as callaloo. This dish is packed with flavor and nutrition, making it a great addition to any meal. Jamaican callaloo is a delicious and nutritious dish that is easy to make and perfect for any occasion. It has a rich history that dates back to the time of slavery in Jamaica when enslaved Africans would gather wild greens and cook them with a variety of spices and meats.

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History of Jamaican Callaloo

The history of Jamaican callaloo dates back to the time of slavery in Jamaica. During this time, enslaved Africans were given very little food and had to supplement their diets by gathering wild greens and vegetables from the surrounding forests. Callaloo was one of the greens that they would gather and cook.

Who brought Callaloo to Jamaica?

Jamaican callaloo is a delicious and nutritious dish that has a rich history in Jamaican cuisine. It is a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of enslaved Africans who used the ingredients available to them to create a dish that has stood the test of time.

Enslaved Africans would cook callaloo with a variety of meats, including salted codfish and pigtail, and season it with spices such as thyme, scallions, and garlic. The dish was hearty and nutritious and helped to sustain them during the difficult times of slavery.

Over time, as Jamaica gained independence and its cuisine evolved, callaloo became a beloved dish among Jamaicans of all backgrounds. It is now a staple dish in Jamaican cuisine and can be found in many Jamaican restaurants and homes.

Is callaloo a versatile dish?

Jamaican callaloo is a versatile dish that can be customized to suit different tastes and preferences. Some recipes call for the addition of coconut milk or okra to thicken the dish, while others use a variety of meats, such as shrimp, chicken, or beef. The spices used in the dish also vary, with some recipes incorporating Scotch bonnet peppers for added heat.

Health Benefits of Jamaican Callaloo

Is Callaloo a Superfood?

Amaranthus viridis also known as callaloo is known as a Caribbean superfood. Callaloo is popular in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti. It is a green leafy vegetable.

Can you eat Jamaican callaloo raw?

Callaloo can be used the same way you would use any other green leafy vegetable. It is usually cooked but can be eaten raw.

Is callaloo good for kidneys?

Rich in potassium, which is an important electrolyte in the regulation of blood pressure and nerve and muscle communication, callaloo also plays an important role in the functioning of the kidneys, heart, and other organs.

What does callaloo do to your body?

Healthy fiber intake also reduces your likelihood of developing hemorrhoids and other common digestive complaints. The amaranth leaves found in many versions of callaloo contain significant levels of flavonoids, which may limit the impact of free radicals and cancer-causing compounds.

Why does callaloo raise blood pressure?

Callaloo on its own does not increase the risk of becoming hypertensive, the methods and ingredients you use while making the dish can contribute to high blood pressure.

How does callaloo affect blood pressure?

This vegetable is also rich in iron. Just like beetroot, callaloo, the dark green leafy vegetable, can be consumed raw or cooked. A dish of callaloo will not only help to control your hypertension but also your heartbeat. The combination of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, makes it an incredibly nutritious food choice.

Is Callaloo good for the prostate?

Callaloo contains phytonutrients that have been linked to reduced risks for certain types of cancer such as colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.

What are the names of the Jamaican callaloo plant called?

Amaranthus viridis is commonly known as garden callaloo in Jamaica. Callaloo pronunciation in Jamaican Patois is: “ka-la-lu”

What is Jamaican callaloo called in America?

In the U.S., it is often difficult to get the leafy green readily, so it is common to use spinach as a substitute. Also, callaloo can go by the name bhajgee (bah-gee).

What is Jamaican callaloo in English?

It’s a green leafy vegetable from the Amaranth family. It is comparable to collard greens, kale, or spinach and is served mainly as a breakfast item in Jamaica.

Is Jamaican callaloo the same as collard greens?

Although they are both similar plants, collard greens, and callaloo belong to entirely distinct species. Collard greens are classified as Brassica oleracea var, while callaloo is classified as Amaranthus tricolor. Greenstripe, pigweed, and several other amaranthus species are all related to callaloo.

Is taro and callaloo the same?

Callaloo is a simple side dish made with aromatics, onions, sweet pepper, scotch bonnet, and more, the heart-shaped leaves of the taro plant. Taro is a plant species that grows wild and abundant in equatorial West Africa.

What does callaloo taste like?

Callaloo spinach has a very mild flavor that is similar to regular spinach. This spinach is best served cooked. It can be sauteed with spices and potatoes for a simple and delicious side dish. This spinach is the main ingredient in the Caribbean soup of the same name.

Does Callaloo taste like collard greens?

Callaloo is a flavorful stewed collard greens-style dish. Although it’s often called Jamaican Callaloo.

What do Haitians call callaloo?

The Haitian Creole word for okra is also “kalalou,” or “gombo,” though the name may sound similar Haitians mean okra.

Cooking Jamaican Callaloo

What parts of callaloo are edible?

You can eat all parts of the callaloo it’s incredibly nutritious. Callaloo is a fast-growing tall leafy green from the Amaranth family. You can harvest the young tender leaves or the mature leaves/stems for cooking. The flower buds and seeds can also be eaten.

How long callaloo takes to cook?

Callaloo is cooked till soft and tender, for about 20-25 minutes.

How do you get the bitter taste out of callaloo?

Once you cook down your callaloo the bitterness should automatically go away, because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

Do you wash callaloo?

Yes, you should wash your callaloo especially if it is fresh callaloo, because you can there can be dirt or bugs may be on it.

Ingredients for Jamaican Callaloo

• Callaloo (fresh or canned)
• Tomato
• Onion
• Garlic
• Sweet pepper
• Thyme
• Scallion
• Scotch Bonnet Pepper
• Butter
• Complete Seasoning
• Adobo
• Salt
• Black Pepper

How to Make Jamaican Callaloo

• Wash the callaloo leaves and chop them into small pieces. Or rinse the can callaloo if using a can.
• Finely chop the onion, tomato garlic, sweet pepper, and scotch bonnet pepper.
• Heat the butter in a pan over medium heat.
• Add the chopped onion, garlic, thyme scallion, and scotch bonnet pepper to the pan and sauté until the onions are translucent.
• Add the callaloo leaves to the pan and stir well.
• Season the callaloo with salt complete, adobo, and black pepper to taste.
• Cover the pan and let the callaloo cook for about 10-15 minutes until the leaves are wilted and tender.
• Serve the Jamaican callaloo hot with your favorite main dish.

FAQs about Jamaican Callaloo

Is callaloo an African food?

Callaloo, a native West African dish, came to the Caribbean during the triangular slave trade along the Middle Passage. The taro plant, known as Xanthosoma on the continent continues to exert unparalleled influence on the Caribbean diet, especially in Jamaica.

What is the national vegetable of Jamaica?

Callaloo is considered the national vegetable of Jamaica because it is one of our main sides and can be eaten with any meal.

Can you grow callaloo in the USA?

If you live in a hot climate that doesn’t have cold winters, you can plant callaloo any time of the year. Note that April or May is the best planting time in the northern hemisphere. But once the summer hits in the colder states don’t be afraid to give growing callaloo a try.

What chemical is in callaloo?

Callaloo is full of proteins such as arginine, histidine, cysteine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan, valine, glutamic acid, alanine, aspartic acid, glycine, praline, plus tyrosine and serine.

What vegetable is similar to callaloo?

Callaloo is a leafy green vegetable that is similar to spinach. It is rich in nutrients and is a good source of vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium. In Jamaica, callaloo is used in a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, and side dishes. It is also a key ingredient in the popular Jamaican dish, ackee and saltfish.

How long does Jamaican callaloo take to grow?

Callaloo is an extremely self-sufficient crop it grows pretty fast. Germination begins between 10-20 days after that it grows in no time

Are spinach and callaloo the same thing?

Callaloo and spinach both come from the Amaranth family. The leaves of both are very similar although spinach leaves tend to be slightly smaller and thinner in size while callaloo has heart-shaped leaves. Spinach is mild in taste and texture and cooks quicker while callaloo has a stronger taste and firmer in appearance.

Is callaloo good for hair growth?

Callaloo has an amazing amount of vitamin C, which aids to maintain collagen in your hair, skin, and nails, the iron in it helps to prevent hair loss.

What is the best substitute for callaloo?

Callaloo may be found at Caribbean grocery stores, but if you cannot find callaloo, you can substitute it for a blend of spinach and collards.

Tips when booking Callaloo

• If you can’t find fresh callaloo leaves, you can use canned callaloo instead. Just make sure to drain the liquid before using it in the recipe.
• If you prefer a milder flavor, you can remove the seeds from the scotch bonnet pepper before chopping it.
• Jamaican callaloo is traditionally served with rice and peas, but it also pairs well with other Caribbean dishes such as jerk chicken or fried fish.

Dishes to eat with Callallo

Callaloo Spinach Dip

Fried Dumpling

Rice and Peas

Jamaican Ackee and Saltfish

““Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.” “Indeed we do come to You, For You are the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV

Wisdom

Our God is a merciful God. He is a forgiving God. He loves us so much that He sent Jesus, His Son to die for our sins. We all are sinners in need of a Savior. And our Savior is Jesus. When we come to Him we must change our sinful ways. We cannot do it on our own, but with the power of His Holy Spirit, we can renew and transform our minds to change our old ways and old habits.

But we have an adversary, the devil, who roams about like a lion, seeking whom he may tempt and devour. When we are weak and feeling low, and lose faith, He tempts us to get us to fall back into our old sins. We find ourselves backsliding into our filth and vomit when we give in, just like Adam and Eve. But we have a good, good, wonderful, excellent Father.

Who is above all, and by His Spirit is in us all, and works through us all. God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins once we repent. Jesus is so good to us and His mercy endures forever. He will heal us once we return to Him. He does not lie and all of His word is truth. I pray we all repent of our ways and return to our Heavenly Father, to receive His healing, to walk in obedience to Him, and not fall back into our old ways and habits. Come to Him all who labor and heavy laden, and He will give you rest.