Soups and Stews

Contrary to popular belief, soups are common in the Caribbean. Despite the hot climate, many people enjoy a hearty soup. Most Caribbean soups are chunky, consisting of root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, yams, and dasheen (also known as taro). Chunks of pumpkin are often added to give body. Blended or pureed soups such as split pea soup are also popular. Some Caribbean soups use a bit of smoked meat as a base flavor. Where I wanted to create that effect, I’ve included liquid smoke or Holiday “Ham” in the recipe.