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Calaloo is a unique and flavorful type of vegetable soup made mainly from taro leaves. In addition to taro leaves, though, calaloo contains an assortment of other vegetables. Finished calaloo is a dark green in color, very thick, and wholesome. The dish is enjoyed widely in the Caribbean and calaloo recipes vary from island to island, and household to household. The dish is also an important part of the culture of some islands. For instance, in Trinidad and Tobago calaloo is traditionally prepared and enjoyed on Sundays for lunch. It is usually served as a side dish accompanied by a macaroni and cheese casserole and baked chicken. On Sundays, there is a 99% surety that in the thousands of homes around the country, families can be found sitting down to a lunch of this meal.

What is calaloo made of?

It is a notable fact that every housewife gives her own signature flavor to her calaloo. Therefore not all calaloo is created equal. The special touch is added either by the addition of special ingredients or by using some unconventional cooking method. However, all calaloo has the same ingredients at its base. The basic ingredients of calaloo are as follows.

Taro leaves. These are the leaves root crops, particularly one called dasheen, and give the calaloo its dark green color. In fact, taro leaves are also know as “calaloo bush” in many islands.

Okras. These provide the prized slipperiness of the finished product.

Pumpkin. There’s no special reason it’s in there, it just is. Everyone adds it out of tradition and no one has ever though to leave it out.

Coconut milk. This adds a wonderful Caribbean flavor and smoothness to the taste.

Fresh herbs and peppers. These include chives, thyme, onions, garlic and hot peppers which provide the wonderful flavor of the dish. Lavish seasoning is an integral part of Caribbean cuisine and calaloo is no exception to the rule.

Additional optional ingredients often include crabs and other meats for flavoring but can be anything desired. Some people even put vegetables like carrots in their calaloo; it’s really all a matter of personal preference and choice.

How is calaloo made?

Now, preparing calaloo is actually remarkably simple. All the ingredients are chopped up and put into the pot at once. Then they are boiled until they are reduced to a mushy mass. At this point salt and a bit more coconut milk are added to taste. Then cooking continues for a short while more. When it is all cooked, the mush is put into a blender and pureed. The result, a thick, smooth, dark green liquid, is delicious table-ready calaloo.

If a person wants to take a crack at making healthy soup, they’ll find that it is super easy to make. There are things that they need to keep in mind, and most of all, they need to keep in mind their health conditions, as well as the health conditions of other people who might eat the homemade soup. That is to say that they should stay away from any ingredients that will add to much sugar. They should also stay away from any ingredients that will raise the sodium count in the soup to an unreasonable level. The great thing about soup is that when a person is creating a broth, they will be using a chicken broth, a beef broth, or a vegetable broth to create something that is healthy.

Chicken broth is the most common base for soup, and it is the most versatile. Of course, chicken broth is used for chicken soups, but it can also be used as a base for vegetable soups as well. It’s also the most common to find. Chicken broth can be found in any grocery store, either in the can, or in a box. Or, if you have some leftover chicken parts in the refrigerator, or in the freezer, simply put these in the water with some seasoning, and now you’ll have some chicken broth. It’s just that simple, and the taste is unbelievable.

Beef broth is pretty easy to find in stores as well. Some people make beef broth-based soups, but beef broth tends to find its way into stews, and into meat pies. But a special note is French onion soup. Beef broth is the base for this soup, and because the soup is clear, this soup is healthy, as well as rich in flavor.

Vegetables can be simply boiled with seasoning, and they can create their own broth. One can also buy common vegetables, heat them, mash them, and freeze them. They’ll be ready for the cook when the cook is ready to create a fresh tasting soup that will outdo anything that can be bought at the store, anytime of day. Again, if a person is concerned about creating a healthy soup, then they need to make sure that they are taking their health considerations into account. Having said this, don’t be afraid to get creative when you are inventing ways to make a healthy and hearty soup for yourself, or for your family. If you need help with regards to recipes, there are plenty of them online, and on certain websites. You might not realize how easy it is to make a delicious, hearty, and healthy soup. But once you try it a couple of times, you will be hooked, and you’ll never want to buy soup from the can ever again.