Bread comes in many forms. The French have their baguettes; along the Mediterranean people eat pitas and in Mexico and Central America you'll find wheat and corn tortillas. In the Caribbean, the staple usually comes in the form of 'pan de casabe', which is cassava bread.
Cassava is a plant that is native to the region of the Caribbean. It's found in parts of South America too. It has many uses but the main one is to use its root as a source of food. The root is long and thin and covered in a brown skin that has a rough texture but the inside is a yellowy or white flesh that is very nutritious.
The Carib and Arawak people started eating cassava long before the European explorers 'discovered' the Americas. By the time that Columbus and others came to the region, it was a staple food in Central America and even in parts of South America as well. The explorers took the foods of the New World with them to Spain and Portugal and from there to their colonies in Africa and Asia and while tomatoes and corn spread throughout the world, cassava became popular mainly in the tropics. Today it's a staple in West Africa too.
There are many ways to eat 'pan de casabe'. Some people go all out and cover it with cheese to make a pizza with a Caribbean flavor. It's great to use as croutons to give substance to soups or crunch to salads and it goes very well with dips too. More traditional is to top it with eggs, avocado or beans and eat it like you would eat tortillas. You can also keep it simple by adding only a little bit of salt and a dash of olive oil.
The main reason why 'pan de casabe' became such a ubiquitous dish on Caribbean dining tables is that it's a good source of energy. It's not only rich in carbohydrates, however, but also contains substantial amounts of calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin C. Because of its low fat and sodium content it's a healthier option than many regular breads.
Making 'pan de casabe' requires that you first process the flesh. Start by peeling the root and then grating the flesh to a pulp. The next step is to squeeze out as much of the liquid from the pulp as you can. This is a very important step because the liquid is poisonous.
If you prefer, you may now add salt to the pulp but it's not really a requirement. Use a mold to shape thin, flat patties or form them by hand. Fry them in a hot pan but don't add oil. They're ready when they have a golden appearance. As they cool, they will harden and get a crispy texture.
The best place to find 'pan de casabe' is to travel to the Caribbean, for instance to the Dominican Republic, and enjoy it at the source. If you want the taste of the Caribbean at home, though, you can try buying either the roots or the ready-made cassava bread at stores that specialize in Caribbean cuisine. Dominican or Jamaican restaurants are likely to serve it as a side dish too and may be willing to sell it to you to go.
Cassava is a plant that is native to the region of the Caribbean. It's found in parts of South America too. It has many uses but the main one is to use its root as a source of food. The root is long and thin and covered in a brown skin that has a rough texture but the inside is a yellowy or white flesh that is very nutritious.
The Carib and Arawak people started eating cassava long before the European explorers 'discovered' the Americas. By the time that Columbus and others came to the region, it was a staple food in Central America and even in parts of South America as well. The explorers took the foods of the New World with them to Spain and Portugal and from there to their colonies in Africa and Asia and while tomatoes and corn spread throughout the world, cassava became popular mainly in the tropics. Today it's a staple in West Africa too.
There are many ways to eat 'pan de casabe'. Some people go all out and cover it with cheese to make a pizza with a Caribbean flavor. It's great to use as croutons to give substance to soups or crunch to salads and it goes very well with dips too. More traditional is to top it with eggs, avocado or beans and eat it like you would eat tortillas. You can also keep it simple by adding only a little bit of salt and a dash of olive oil.
The main reason why 'pan de casabe' became such a ubiquitous dish on Caribbean dining tables is that it's a good source of energy. It's not only rich in carbohydrates, however, but also contains substantial amounts of calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin C. Because of its low fat and sodium content it's a healthier option than many regular breads.
Making 'pan de casabe' requires that you first process the flesh. Start by peeling the root and then grating the flesh to a pulp. The next step is to squeeze out as much of the liquid from the pulp as you can. This is a very important step because the liquid is poisonous.
If you prefer, you may now add salt to the pulp but it's not really a requirement. Use a mold to shape thin, flat patties or form them by hand. Fry them in a hot pan but don't add oil. They're ready when they have a golden appearance. As they cool, they will harden and get a crispy texture.
The best place to find 'pan de casabe' is to travel to the Caribbean, for instance to the Dominican Republic, and enjoy it at the source. If you want the taste of the Caribbean at home, though, you can try buying either the roots or the ready-made cassava bread at stores that specialize in Caribbean cuisine. Dominican or Jamaican restaurants are likely to serve it as a side dish too and may be willing to sell it to you to go.
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