Cooking is so much more than merely preparing a meal for consumption. It’s a reflection of our unique personalities, a way of showing love and a proven method for bringing people together. The best chefs use cooking as a means of exploration; you can literally travel the globe without setting foot outside of your kitchen. So why then are we content with sticking to what we know when a world of culinary delights awaits us?
Our local cuisine is an eclectic blend of dishes adopted from the Arawaks, African slaves, Chinese and Indian indentured labourers and English colonists who all called Jamaica home. Although our food may already be a fun fusion of different cultures, we can still add even more excitement to our dinner tables by simply venturing outside of our comfort zone.
Instead of oxtail tonight, how about trying one of my go to Asian meals, wontons. Wonton skins are easy to find locally, just check your neighbourhood supermarket. You can stuff it with any of your favourite ingredients, from jerk pork and pineapples, to shrimp, green peas and cream cheese. The key is to start out with recipes which incorporate familiar elements and before you know it, you too will be an aficionado of international cuisine!

Another easy way to add some spice to your meals is to experiment with ‘new’ ingredients. You may not usually incorporate saffron, anise and anchovies into your everyday cooking but you could certainly give them a try with a simple recipe. A quick search online will reveal a wealth of information about the origin, taste, smell, texture and use of ‘exotic’ ingredients. Start out with some easy to follow recipes and gradually work your way up to the more complicated cooking techniques.

Finally, the key to mixing it up in the kitchen is to abandon any preconceived notions you may have about other cuisines. Mexican and French meals for example, are much easier to cook than you may think. Mexican cuisine utilizes a variety of salsas, which may serve as a delicious compliment to many of our traditional dishes such as fish and pork. Add a kick of new flavour to your chicken with a tasty French staple, Coq Au Vin, a chicken stew packed with mushrooms, bacon and red wine. Other delicious French options include Chicken Cordon Bleu, featuring baked chicken stuffed with ham and cheese, or Croque-madame, a grilled cheese sandwich with ham, sunny side up egg and white sauce.

So what are you waiting for? Make a beeline to your nearest supermarket, grab some ingredients you may or may not be able to pronounce, and have some fun in the kitchen today!

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Shrimp & Chicken Pasta

 

Ingredients

• ¾ pound, penne pasta
• 1 pound, shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 1 pound, chicken breast (diced)
• 2 cups, heavy whipping cream
• ¾ cup, white wine
• ¹⁄₃ cup, parmesan cheese
• 2 sprigs, thyme
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• 1 garlic clove
• ½ scotch bonnet pepper (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons, butter
• 1 tablespoon, oil
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Paprika (sprinkle)
• Parsley or basil (for garnish)

Method

1. Cook penne pasta in salted water and drain. Do not rinse pasta.
2. Lightly season shrimp and chicken with salt, pepper and paprika.
3. Preheat a large skillet to med/high and add oil. Once the oil is hot, add chicken in a single layer and cook for 1 – 2 minutes on each side or just until fully cooked.
4. Add shrimp and cook until no longer translucent.
5. Mix in chopped seasoning and sauté. Continue seasoning as you cook.
6. Deglaze with white wine and stir in heavy cream.
7. Add pasta and simmer until sauce is evenly coated. Sprinkle cheese into the mixture.
8. Garnish with parsley or basil and serve hot.

 

To Read More: Purchase your copy of Volume 9 #2– May – June 2017

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