Callaloo (Caribbean Green Soup)

A rich, creamy soup of leafy greens, coconut milk, and crab — the Caribbean''s soul food.

Ingredients

• 1 lb callaloo leaves (or spinach/Swiss chard)
• 1 can coconut milk
• 8 oz crab meat (or shrimp)
• 6 okra, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 scallions
• 1 scotch bonnet, whole
• Fresh thyme, salt, pepper

Method

1. Sauté onion, garlic, scallions, thyme 3 min.

2. Add callaloo leaves, okra, coconut milk, 1 cup water, scotch bonnet. Simmer 20 min until greens are very tender.

3. Blend until smooth (or leave chunky). Return to pot.

4. Add crab meat. Simmer 5 min. Season.

5. Serve with rice or bread.

What You're Practicing

• Callaloo varies by island — Trinidad uses dasheen leaves, Jamaica uses callaloo (amaranth).
• Spinach or Swiss chard are the best substitutes if you can''t find callaloo leaves.