I’m no nutritionist, just a Chef with a very firm view on the way we should eat.  This whole low carb diet thing doesn’t sit right with me.  Carbs give you energy, point blank, end case.  Carbs also help your body produce serotonin, which is a feel-good-hormone, so on a low carb diet you are robbing your body of energy and pleasure.  Big up all my people of power, who dig to the root underneath the hoof.   I’ve created a HIGH CARB recipe to make up for all the bountiful carbs that are being left behind by the weight watchers. Here is what you will need.

Caribbean Roots and Rice

10oz Caribbean pumpkin peeled and cubed

8oz eddoes peeled and cubed

11oz sweet potato peeled and cubed

4oz carrot peeled and cubed

1 small onion diced

1 ripe plantain

1 bud of garlic

1 bunch of fresh thyme

10oz frozen spinach (no fresh spinach @ this time on this island)

10oz frozen okra (no fresh okra @ this time on this island)

15oz canned creamed corned (no fresh corn @ this time on this island)

Method:

To roast the garlic bud simply chop off the top and then season the whole bud with olive oil salt and pepper. Place it in the center of your oven on a tray for about 20-30min @ 350F until buds are cooked.  Bring the eddoes,sweet potatoes and thyme to a boil in salted water.  Follow the instructions on the package for the cooking the spinach and okra (what we call chop up).

When eddoes and potatoes are 75% cooked add in the cubed pumpkin.  Allow this mixture to lightly boil until all the ingredients are cooked but not mushy.  Strain and allow to cool.  When spinach and okra are cooked stir in the creamed corn, season and set aside.  Slice the plantain into wheels about 1/4 inch thick and caramelize in a saute pan with a bit of vegetable oil.  Now I like my roots a bit toasty so I saute them on high heat with a bit of vegetable oil,butter, diced onion and seasonings.

You could also just mix the chop up with the boiled roots to avoid any unwanted oil and fat.  Serve on a bed of your favourite rice and top with caramelized plantain and roasted garlic.  This recipe can serve 6 adults easy.  If your just cooking for 2-3 people, then save some of the boiled roots and i’ll show you what to do with the left overs in my next posting.