There are many kinds of restaurants in America, and among them would be Caribbean food restaurants as well. As the country has a significant Caribbean and Latin American presence, the cuisine is bound to become popular among the masses. But like any other industry, many restaurants serve the Caribbean food. And finding the best in the lot can be quite a challenge.
But today, we will focus on some of the secrets that entail the Caribbean cuisine. It is to help people understand its influence san backgrounds to make people more accepting of the culture and its food.
The cuisine is known to be a mixture of Chinese, Arab, East Indian, European, Amerindian, and African cuisine. The indigenous population living in the islands has also added their flavors to the cuisine, which you will be able to taste at some of the best Caribbean restaurants in Maryland.
In the year 1493, Columbus arrived in the islands, and foods like garlic, onions, eggplant, cilantro, chick-peas, and coconut were introduced to the cuisine. Few European colonists like the Swedes, French, British, Danish, Dutch, and Portuguese also left their culinary trademarks during their stay at the islands. A few foods that they introduced include coffee, rice, mangoes, limes, and oranges.
The food is known for its rich history and distinct flavor. In order to decode the secrets that entail the different dishes in Caribbean restaurants in Maryland, one has to dig deeper into the various ingredients used by the people. Some of them include coconut, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, chickpeas, bell peppers, coriander (cilantro), cassava, beans, plantains, and rice. The blend of these ingredients is known to create vibrant and colorful flavors.
The people also use a very unusual seasoning tradition that is made of oil-based marinades and green herbs called Mojo. It includes various ingredients like thyme, tarragon, rosemary, marjoram, cilantro, green onions, celery, scotch bonnet peppers, onions, and garlic. Mojo is one of the many secrets of the cuisine that is extensively used in many dishes.
The dishes in the cuisine are rarely deep fried or oily. The go-to choices that most people love include Grills, Roasts, and Barbecues. The meat is either wet-marinated or dry-rubbed with hot spices or Mojo. It is one of the ways Jerk food is prepared. Jerk refers to the web rub or very spicy dry application on different meats, including chicken. When the meat absorbs the flavor, it is grilled or smoked to fiery perfection. There are plenty of variations in the way the dishes are prepared, because the influences come from Latin America, Portugal, Africa, and many other countries.
Because the islands are all about sandy beaches, balmy weather, and lively culture, the traditional cuisine of the Caribbean includes steak, chicken, and seafood. The people are known to love seafood to the core. There are many ways of cooking seafood, depending on the people who are preparing it. They are boiled, steamed, or grilled. Apart from these options, beans and legumes are also an essential part of the cuisine.
The Caribbean cuisine has so much to offer people in terms of taste. If you are curious to try out, make a stop to any of the reputed Caribbean restaurants in your neighborhood for the experience of a lifetime.
