Showing posts with label Jamaica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jamaica. Show all posts

Friday, November 12, 2021

World Cuisine: Exotic Fruits: Ackee Fruit

Always happy to learn about exotic fruits from around the world.  This post is about the ACKEE FRUIT.  Even though it is a fruit, it is cooked as a vegetable.  It is native to West Africa, but has been cultivated in Jamaica since 1778 when it was brought to the Caribbean by British slave traders.  The Jamaicans liked it so much they made it the country's national fruit and their national dish is ackee with saltfish (or codfish).

WARNING:  Do not eat this fruit in its unripened state as it is poisonous.  However, once ripe, eat only the yellow arilli  which is the edible portion.  The black seeds are always toxic whether the fruit is ripe or unripened.  

NOTE:  If you are unable to buy it fresh, you can also buy canned ackee to use in your recipe.  You can even find it freeze-dried.

ackee

 * Ackee and Saltfish Recipe | Serious Eats

* Ackee And Saltfish Recipe #TastyTuesdays | CaribbeanPot   


I was curious to know if there were any West African recipes with this fruit as a main ingredient, but discovered that even though the ackee fruit originates from there, in that part of the world, it is used mainly for medicinal purposes.

** West African Ackee Fruit • We Blog The World

“The ackee tree (Blighia sapida) is indigenous to the tropical forests of West Africa. Although it is not popularly eaten there, it is cultivated in the region for several nonfood uses: Immature fruits are used to make soap; the wood from the tree is termite resistant and used for building;  extracts from the poisonous seeds are taken to treat parasites and are sometimes used as a fish poison;  topical ointment made from crushed ackee leaves is applied to the skin to treat headaches and ulcers. And the Ackee leaves are also good as a fodder for goats.”

Since this food comes with a warning, you might want to know a little bit more.  Below are some additional links of interest.

Ackee - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

What is Ackee Fruit: How Do You Eat It + 4 Best Ackee Recipes

Ackee Fruit Information, Recipes and Facts | Specialty Produce

Ackee: Wiki facts for this cookery item | Cookipedia

THE POISON THAT JAMAICA LOVES AND AFRICA FEARS | beyondentertainmentblog


Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Taste of the Islands - TV Cooking Show on PBS

Finally! Singing the Hallelujah chorus. AGAIN!

This time all the rejoicing is because of a food TV show.

We relocated to Austin, Texas in 1998 and my mate's first observation about living in this land-locked part of the state was that the city was missing a good Bahamian restaurant or at least someplace that serves dishes that look like island food!

Once we got cable TV hooked up and got settled in, his next complaint was that the #food channels didn't have a good cooking show to teach people how to prepare common island meals.

In 2015, his prayer was finally answered.  Although the series did not last for very long.  But it was fun while it lasted!


http://tastetheislandstv.com/chef-irie/Our public television station (PBS) airs a show called “Taste the Islands”. Chef Irie (real name Hugh Sinclair) lives in South Florida but is from Jamaica.

My mate is from The Bahamas.

Close enough!





 
We're both very happy.
For now.  :)


* * * * * * PBS – Celebrating Food & Cooking


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Taste of the Islands first published at Persona Paper, Jul 20, 2015.

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Treathyl Fox aka Cmoneyspinner – Home Business Entrepreneur.  Think. Dream. Focus. Believe in yourself? Hire yourself! Be your own boss! Do it! Self-employed and loving it!   ♦ DISCLOSURE: In compliance with FTC rules and guidelines, be advised that some links shared via my my websites and blogs might contain affiliate referral links which means commissions might be earned if product sales resulted from your click-through to the vendor’s website. Contact or Connect via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, HUBPages, or Medium.