Jamaican Steamed Callaloo
In short: Tender amaranth greens cooked down with onion, tomato, thyme and a little scotch bonnet in a covered pan. A simple, earthy side or breakfast dish. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 125 kcal
In Jamaica, callaloo means leafy amaranth greens, not the soup of the same name found on other islands. The leaves are cooked quickly in a covered pan with onion, scallion, tomato, garlic, thyme and a little scotch bonnet, and they cook down to a soft, savory pile that tastes like spinach with more body. Callaloo is a side dish at lunch, and at breakfast it comes with fried dumplings, boiled yam and green bananas, often with saltfish stirred through.
Instructions
- Wash the callaloo in several changes of water. Strip the leaves from any thick stems, then chop the leaves and tender stems roughly.
- Heat the oil in a large, deep pan over medium heat. Cook the onion, scallions and garlic for 3 minutes until soft.
- Add the tomato, thyme and scotch bonnet and cook for 2 minutes until the tomato starts to break down.
- Add the callaloo in handfuls with the water, salt and black pepper. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring once, until wilted.
- Uncover and cook for 3 to 5 minutes more, until tender and most of the liquid has cooked off. Remove the thyme stalk and serve hot.
Tips
- Amaranth is sold as callaloo or Chinese spinach in Caribbean, Asian and African markets. Spinach or Swiss chard work too, but spinach needs only 3 minutes of covered cooking.
- Seeding the scotch bonnet keeps its fruity flavor with moderate heat. For a hotter pot, leave some of the seeds in.
Questions and answers
What is callaloo in Jamaica?
It is a leafy green, amaranth, and also the name of the dish made from it. In Jamaica the greens are sautéed and steamed, while in some other islands callaloo is a soup.
Can I use canned callaloo?
Yes. Drain a 540 g (19 oz) can well, skip the water, and cook it with the onion mixture for 5 to 8 minutes. Canned callaloo is already soft, so it needs very little cooking.
What do you eat with Jamaican callaloo?
Fried dumplings, boiled yam and green bananas are the classic breakfast partners. At lunch it is a side for rice and peas and stewed or jerk dishes.
How long does it take to make Jamaican Steamed Callaloo?
About 30 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Jamaican Steamed Callaloo?
About 125 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 9 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 125 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 9 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 330 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
