A Caribbean soup is an important part of Caribbean cuisine. Caribbean is a region known for its rich and delectable foods which have influences of various other areas of the world. The food of the Caribbean region is known for its unique taste that is an amalgamation of the various influences and the region's own preferences.
Essentially, the cuisine of Caribbean is a fusion of British, Spanish, African, Indian, Chinese and Dutch cuisines, to name a few, and these influence each dish of the region, including the many soup preparations. The soups of the Caribbean range from quick and simple to rich and elaborate preparations. In the region, soups are consumed as not just an appetizer but also a snack as well as a part of the main course.
Soups have been an essential part of the Caribbean culinary tradition since the ancient times. Traditionally, the soups of the region are always hearty. The broth is never thin and the soup is generally a dish. With time, however, a few lighter recipes have emerged. The heartier versions are, however, still more popular.
Common Ingredients Used in Caribbean Soup Recipes
While the specific ingredients to be used in a Caribbean soup depend completely on the recipe to be followed, there are a few common ingredients like butter, oil, broth and salt, which are common to every recipe. There are many types of Caribbean soups and there is actually more than one recipe to make a single type of soup. The list of ingredients that can be used in a particular soup can, therefore, be extensive. As there is no fixed recipe to make soups, there is no fixed list of ingredients that are suggested.
Everything from meats, seafood and vegetables to herbs, spices and seasoning agents can be a part of the soups. Chicken, shrimp, pork, beef, onion, tomato, basil, coconut, carrot, banana, potato, corn, ginger, garlic, cloves, cinnamon and cumin, to name a few, are the most commonly added ingredients.
Preparation of Caribbean Soups
While a Caribbean soup is prepared much like most other soups, the process depends a lot on the ingredients. Essentially, making the soups is not a difficult task and the preparation time is generally about 30 to 40 minutes. The time taken can, however, be longer if a thicker broth is prepared or if hard meats are being used as an ingredient. To make the soup, the ingredients are first prepared as required (chopped, cleaned, diced, etc.) and then mixed with the broth and seasoning agents in a large broth. The contents of the pot are then cooked till the soup has reached the preferred level of doneness.
Traditionally, Caribbean soups were slow cooked. Modern chefs, however, prefer to use equipment that enables quicker cooking. Although traditionalists insist that the slow cooker version tastes better.
When making the soup, the most important thing to watch out for is burning of ingredients. It is important to keep stirring the soup. Even a little bit of browning or burning can lend a woody, often unpleasant taste to the preparation.
Trivia
While the broth to be used in preparations largely depends on the recipe being followed, fish broth has always been the broth of choice when natives make a Caribbean soup at home.