Veggie Blog

Book Description
Jamaica has been a melting pot of many cultural influences including the Africans, Spanish, English, Indians, Asians and Arawaks (native inhabitants pre-Columbus). Out of a diverse mix of foods, spices, and cultures has come this wonderful array of tempting dishes as lively as the people of Jamaica themselves.

What is Delicious Jamaica! about?

The description presents Jamaican food as the result of a diverse mix of foods, spices and cultures, and calls the dishes tempting and as lively as the people of Jamaica.

Which cultures shaped the cooking?

The description says Jamaica has been a melting pot including Africans, Spanish, English, Indians, Asians and Arawaks, the native inhabitants before Columbus.

Who wrote it?

The author named in the title is Yvonne McCalla Sobers. The description does not give a recipe count or list any dishes.

Everything above comes from the book description on its Amazon page.

How do beans, plantains and seasonings work in Caribbean cooking?

Jamaican food reflects many cultural influences, as the description says, and plant-based dishes draw on peas and beans, rice, plantain, yam, callaloo, coconut, peppers and herbs. The combination of beans with rice is filling and gives a good range of nutrients, and fresh thyme, scallion and allspice add flavour.

Seasoning blends and stock cubes can be very salty, which is worth knowing because the Harvard Nutrition Source page on sodium explains that high sodium intake is linked with raised blood pressure. Use herbs, citrus, garlic, ginger and peppers for flavour, and taste before adding salt.

Coconut milk adds richness, but it is high in saturated fat, as the Harvard Nutrition Source page on types of fat notes. Use it for special dishes or choose a lighter version.

Hot peppers vary in strength, so handle them with care: wash your hands afterwards and avoid touching your eyes. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor about salt intake. Cook large pots of beans in advance and freeze portions.

Related reading on this blog: Eating to Lower Cholesterol: Oats, Fruit, Beans and Healthy Fats and Diet and Fitness: How Carbs, Fat and Protein Fit Together

Book: Delicious Jamaica! by Yvonne McCalla Sobers
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