steamed veg

[Rose]

Help! I just steamed some cabbage with scallion, thyme, tomatoes, a touch of scotch bonnet, salt and black pepper and a little oil. Tried to do it just like in JA, but it tastes boring. I think it needs more oil or something. Any suggestions or recipes?
Maybe if I put it on a sandwich.. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Q3210]

Re: steamed veg

Maybe it needs just the Jamaican breeze through your kitchen. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Nugget]

Re: steamed veg

Do you serve with meat kind ?
I think Steamed veggie should be simple taste.
so you can serve w/fish or meat kind dish.

or you can add some broth to it cook up more as stew. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Rose]

Re: steamed veg

Nugget, I'm serving it with roast chicken. Upon tasting it again, it's really not too terrible. So, since you mention a simple taste, it will work. But, I think Q is right, it needs a Jamaican breeze.
Q, I hope you're up for company. I'll be right down and you can teach me to season properly. Expect me by 6:00. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[NYC_gyal]

Re: steamed veg

Rose
Mi rasta puts pimento in it and sometimes coconut milk. The pimento is the main spice you are missing.

[Q3210]

Re: steamed veg

Apart from the breeze, I`ll suggest not knowing whether you do it yea or nay is:
1/ to use minimal salt. [Takes away the real taste]
2/ not to over-cook [because it becomes too saggy and mushy and all taste disappears]

I prefer crispy firm veggies.
I have experienced some of my fellow Jamaicans who cook the cabbage down too much and with too much oil.
The veggies cooked on a low-medium fire with a little oil or margarine springs its own water.
What I personally do is cook it in a pyrex dish or a plate for 4 minutes and a lil extra in the micro wave oven.
Only calaloo of the veggie family I do not use the micro.

[Rose]

Re: steamed veg

Let me correct my last post..it should have read it's really not too terrible . It wasn't bad and I cooked it on low heat w/ a little oil and a tiny bit of water. It did make it's own water and was cooked just right in terms of texture.

NYCgyal, I'll keep the pimento in mind. It needed something, and that could be the ingredient. I fear that it may be the oil that I'm missing. I'm trying to cook healthy, but I love that oily taste. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[Simmy]

Re: steamed veg

Rose, try using a bit of coconut oil next time instead of regular vegetable oil. It may help the taste, I usually fry my seasonings in the coconut oil then steam my cabbage or callaloo on low heat after saute'ing the seasonings. All the rest seems right to me, scallions or onion, thyme, salt, pepper, peeca scotch bonnet, peeca chopped tomatoe, pimento & for variety add likkle salt fish (nuh use salt dem time deh) or sliced sweet (bell) peppers. Plus if you eat the veggies next day, the seasonings soak in and the dish tastes better.

[Nugget]

Re: steamed veg

yup, I would do that same.
<<for serving roast chicken>> i wouldn't serve
steamed veggie has tomatoe in a it. just cabbage&carrots use some w/coconut oil.but
I would love tomatoe in my stew veggie. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[Rose]

Re: steamed veg

Simmy, I'm definitely going to try sauteing(sp?) the spices in coconut oil first. I actually thought about doing so, but just threw everything in and went with it. You're right though..the leftovers tasted even better today. I can do this! I can cook! It's frustrating because I'm a fairly good cook, but haven't yet been able to even nearly replicate the delicious dishes I've eaten with friends/family in Jamaica.

Nugget, no tomatoes? just cabbage and carrots? ..taking notes..

[Nugget]

Re: steamed veg

I think better without tomatoe for roast chicken(simple roasted one). carrots are sweet and texture nice with cabbage. <<I pick my veggie from
organic store.>>

maybe good to serve tomatoe with it if main is fish dishes. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[grandma2]

Re: steamed veg

(((Rose))) mi friend who hardly come look fi mi no more,mi tink we did inna clique DWL.

girl mi nuh knoh but yu see fi mi cabbage mi nuh put thyme inna it,just change de flavour. yu mind if mi give yu my recipe, ok here it is

Steamed Cabbage

4 cups chopped cabbage (more shredded) wash in a collendar an leave to drain,say 10 mins max. if longer rewet.
1 med. tomato chopped
1 med onion chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
3-4 slices scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
3 pimento seed crushed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt (I use sea salt)
3 tablespoon cooking oil

place cooking oil in a dutch pot or a heavy pot,heat, add onion,garlic,pepper, tomato,fry for 3 mins. add b/pepper an some of the salt stir.

add the cabbage,stir add the rest of the salt,stir,cover. turn flame down to med.low.stir after bout 5mins cover again. taste after anoth 3 mins. adjust seasoning. enjoy

do not cook longer than 10 mins.

[Rose]

Re: steamed veg

(((Grandma))) Oh yes, The clique for the cliqueless..or clueless! DWL!

I now have several variations of steamed cabbage to try...will do so without the thyme next time and compare.

[Rose]

Re: steamed veg

Steamed veg update: It's been perfected! I used very little thyme and cooked the spices in the oil first. Much better taste. I did go a little over on the pepper, but I like it a little spicy. Grandma, I agree on the thyme..it does change the taste. I just used a little and the other flavors came through nicely. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[grandma2]

Re: steamed veg

yes (((Rose))) mi glad its ok. see thyme is a funny spice, in water veg. it changes dem flavour so is like yu eating thyme.

mi ongle like thyme on my meats