Recipe: Caribbean paella

Helmi Smeulders knows the Antillean cuisine like no other. After all, she has lived in Curaçao for 20 years and prefers to cook authentic Caribbean dishes with a modern twist. In her new The Caribbean Cookbook, she shares well-known Antillean all-time favourites such as plantain, yardlong beans, Johnny Cakes and this delicious paella.

“This is such a classic that I’ve given a Caribbean twist. You can get the fresh fish and spicy chorizo (or even better: homemade goat sausage) at the market. Give the paella a kick with roasted jalapeños. a wonderfully summery dish!”

How to make Caribbean paella

• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat and fry the onion and bell pepper for about 3 minutes until lightly browned.
• Add the garlic, chipotle, cumin and oregano and fry for another 1 minute until the aromas are released. Deglaze with the tequila and scrape the flavourful bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Add the rice and fry for about 2 minutes until translucent, stirring constantly. Add the stock, turmeric and bay leaf. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 35–40 minutes, or until the rice is cooked.
• Pierce holes in the jalapeños with a satay skewer and place them on a rack over the flame of the stove. If you don’t cook on gas, you can also use your oven’s grill or a barbecue. Char the jalapeños on all sides until completely black but not burnt. Place them in a heatproof bowl and cover with cling film. Leave to steam for 5 minutes, then carefully remove the black skin and seeds and cut them into thin strips.
• Mix the squid and prawns with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan or barbecue over high heat and grill the chorizo, squid, prawns and okra.
• Once the rice is cooked, divide the chorizo, squid, prawns, okra and jalapeño over the rice. Garnish with lime and finely chopped coriander. Sprinkle with the chilli flakes and serve immediately.

Title: The Caribbean Cookbook
Author: Helmi Smeulders
Price: €21.99
Publisher: Nieuw Amsterdam

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