tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63084835085388468232024-09-10T05:24:10.157-07:00Welcome to The Tropical Gourmet, a blog sharing recipes and tidbits about cooking, especially tropical and exotic cuisines. In Miami, where I live, there is a plethora of cuisines from South and Central America, to the Caribbean, to Asia and everything in between. Lucky me, these are some of my favorite foods! So get ready to whet your appetite. And feel free to comment on my blog. Thanks for visiting.Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-54900827486846037072011-07-22T00:39:00.000-07:002011-07-22T12:49:42.084-07:00

A Strata is basically a layered casserole made with eggs, milk and bread. I was looking for a breakfast casserole that could feed some weekend guests or feed me a few days during the work week when there is no time for a warm breakfast. You mix everything together and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator and then pop it into the oven for about 45 minutes to an hour in the morning. This is

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-43460447387048860232011-07-09T19:24:00.000-07:002011-07-09T19:24:56.850-07:00

2 tablespoons black pepper 2 tablespoons cumin 1 tablespoon coriander seed 1 tablespoon dried mint 1 tablespoon clove 1 tablespoon nutmeg 1 tablespoon green cardamom 1 pinch cinnamon

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-34627143967292759042011-07-08T15:09:00.000-07:002011-07-08T15:09:36.454-07:00

I swear, I must have taken all but 15 minutes to pull this dinner together. It 's super easy and quick, healthy and delicious. What more could you want from a dish? I used whole grain pasta but you can use whatever type you like. Use a pasta with bite to it though, like penne, macaroni, shells or rotini. Half box pasta 1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli 1 cup chopped tomatoes (you can use canned if

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-53246539345892309072011-07-08T14:40:00.000-07:002011-07-08T14:40:56.577-07:00

I had been hearing about Sweet potato hummus for a while now and decided to give it a try in my own kitchen. The following recipe is what I came up with and it's really good. Serve with tortilla chips, pita chips and/or veggies. I like it with carrot sticks. You can also use it as a spread on a sandwich. A good one to try would be lightly toasted bread (preferably pita bread) topped with sliced

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-3887968654344944602011-07-02T15:30:00.000-07:002011-07-02T15:38:40.939-07:00

Lately I have been adapting a more vegetarian diet and have been experimenting with adapting many recipes. Today I made a vegetarian version of Navy Bean Soup, a regular on the tables of many Miami Latins as well as many Miami restaurants. This version is completely vegan and lacking none of the flavor of the original. It is easy to make and uses inexpensive ingredients. I cook the beans

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-24889689845903369822011-06-07T16:35:00.000-07:002011-06-07T16:41:56.686-07:00

I recently came up with this dish while trying out a vegetarian diet for a few weeks. Whether or not you are a vegetarian or you are just trying to eat less meat, this dish is delicious. You can put it together in about 20 minutes, making it quick and easy as well. I love artichokes, so I was looking for a new way to use them. This is definitely a winner.  It has become a regular on my table

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-12336953953205261492011-04-12T19:36:00.000-07:002011-04-12T19:36:11.328-07:00

This casserole is a very good way to get kids to eat vegetables. It is delicious and healthy - especially if you use low fat cheese and sour cream like I do. I also make it using a mixture of yellow squash and zucchini when they are in season. A wonderful dish to bring to a pot luck. Your vegetarian friends will approve too. Enjoy! Broccoli Casserole 1 package fresh or frozen broccoli florets

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-4005566836272382362011-03-25T15:41:00.000-07:002011-03-25T15:46:25.425-07:00

Lately I've been addicted to this pesto, tossing it with thin spaghetti and topping my pasta with grilled shrimp. So yummy! As always, you can adjust the ingredients amounts to your liking. Spinach-Basil Pesto 1/2 cup Fresh Basil 1 2/3 cups Fresh Spinach leaves 2 large cloves garlic or 3 small cloves of garlic 1/2 cup Fresh Parmesan cheese, broken into small cubes Juice of 1/2 a Lemon Zest of 1

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-1738165377473760722010-12-04T16:17:00.000-08:002010-12-04T16:46:28.981-08:00

Every so often I get a craving for fish tacos. Luckily, I  live in Miami where fresh fish is plentiful, but you can use good quality frozen fillets too. I have made these with a mango salsa and a jimica slaw which was wonderful but also with a traditional tomato salsa, lettuce and cheese. I don't use a creamy cheese because I don't think it goes well with the fish. I use Queso Fresco ( a

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-87917090154984898822010-11-21T21:10:00.000-08:002010-11-21T21:10:53.256-08:00

This is a homey dish my mom used to serve to us when we were kids, often accompanying meatloaf or pan fried burgers. It was one of the few ways my mom got us picky kids to eat green beans. I like to serve it with meat balls and white rice or mom's favorite accompaniments. It is not a gourmet dish but it is delicious and a wonderful dish to take to potlucks. It is best made with fresh green beans

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-13209016876561492982010-11-18T22:30:00.000-08:002010-11-21T21:18:19.673-08:00

Since it is Thanksgiving, I'll go ahead and share some of my recipes of dishes I prepare for my family's gathering. My mushroom gravy always gets rave reviews. My sister even brags to her colleagues about it after Thanksgiving day. (Thanks, Sis!) It is a very simple gravy to make. The trick to making gravy is using a well seasoned home made stock and making a roux before slowly whisking in the

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-88483769568948820182010-11-17T00:47:00.000-08:002010-11-17T08:18:06.785-08:00

It's that time of the year again. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving and I do the majority of the cooking. I came up with the "stuffing" recipe a few years back. Although we call it dressing. I have never stuffed a bird of any kind. I don't like the idea of putting something I will eat in the raw cavity of a a turkey, duck or chicken. I know plenty of people do the stuffing but not me. I do,

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-12462073379827932752010-11-16T11:24:00.000-08:002010-11-16T14:19:13.494-08:00

I love Mexican food. It's not that dissimilar from Costa Rican food........ we eat a lot of tortillas, picadillos, beans, rice, salsas, etc. but Costa Rican food is not spicy - at least nor the way my mom made it. Mexican food usually means chillies - and spicy- which I love. Last night I was craving some truly Mexican style tacos. I threw together this lovely dish - which was delicious - with

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-17613555113613080072010-11-08T02:52:00.000-08:002010-11-17T08:21:28.334-08:00

Mojo is a staple in Latin cooking, especially Cuban cuisine. Every kitchen has its own house recipe but the ingredients remain basically the same: fresh garlic, chopped onion, olive oil and fresh citrus juice. Normally, sour orange is used as the citrus but it can be hard to come by in many places other than Miami and its indigenous homes. I use a combination of lime, lemon and orange juices,

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-60005898550066221762010-10-19T14:50:00.000-07:002010-10-20T01:22:05.465-07:00

I love kebabs. I made these delicious morsels last night. Kebabs of all cuisines are often made with ground meat. Southeast Asian cuisine is known for it's delicious satay, which is pretty much the same as a kebab. Kebabs originated in the Middle East as small pieces of meat threaded and cooked over a fire. Traders brought the idea of kebabs to India, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, who adopted the

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-10206850153046629192010-10-15T19:57:00.000-07:002010-10-16T22:44:35.969-07:00

One of my favorite cuisines is Indian. Ever since I was introduced to the exotic spices so beautifully put together in Indian cuisine, I have loved it. I woke up today with a craving for spicy lamb curry. Luckily, there was lamb in my fridge and almost everything else you need is in the pantry. I even make my own curry power, which I will post. But for this recipe, a good quality store

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-76078683540121791262010-10-12T03:34:00.000-07:002010-10-15T17:09:41.084-07:00

Tonight I made chicken kebabs with Middle Eastern spices, Moroccan style couscous and a Greek style salad. I know, weird combination but it all worked rather nicely together. I'm nothing if not a creative chef ! The salty acidity of the salad complimented the sweetness of the couscous. And the kebabs were nicely seasoned. I basically marinated the chicken in a puree of plain yogurt, onion and

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-15292581191250383902010-09-29T15:55:00.000-07:002010-10-15T23:22:58.968-07:00

After watching "The Great Food Truck Race" episodes on Food Network, I started to crave a wrap from the Nom Nom Truck - who used fusion cooking to create Vietnamese style tacos in flour tortillas. I love wraps of all kinds.  They are a quick way to create a tasty meal and the possibilities are endless. Last week I made Greek wraps, with beef  kebabs (marinated in

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-73663213164127502762010-09-24T19:58:00.000-07:002011-05-07T12:34:57.843-07:00

Tonight I made Singapore Noodles for dinner. So yummy!!  As you can see, I am a major noodle addict. I've seen so many different recipes for Singapore Noodles but I don't really think there is one definitive, "authentic" recipe.  It's basically a street vendor food which is a mixture of Asian flavors, primarily soy sauce, Indian curry spices and sometimes fish sauce and sesame oil

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-90615202127901996622010-09-22T18:27:00.000-07:002010-10-17T19:08:41.040-07:00

Quick and Delicious Minestrone Tonight I'm making a quick version of Minestrone soup for dinner. I know, it's not exactly tropical (well, I've been to some rather warm, seaside towns in Italy...) but it was so quick and easy to make, I thought I'd share. The silver lining is it's very healthy and can be completely vegetarian if you use vegetable stock or water. This isn't a recipe per say, just

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-81360338470688322602010-09-20T13:46:00.000-07:002010-11-16T15:12:52.923-08:00

Arroz con Pollo is comfort food to me. My mother, who is Costa Rican, used to make it often when I was a kid and I always loved it. She put potatoes, olives and raisins in hers; I generally omit the potatoes but like the addition of raisins and sometimes put in olives, if I remember. My mom used to make a big pot of small, red beans to go on top of the rice... so yummy! These beans are typical of

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-78902013495199634842010-09-09T14:41:00.000-07:002010-11-06T04:18:02.892-07:00

When I was a little girl, I lived in the Florida Keys. Yeah I know, lucky kid growing up on a tropical island vacation spot. It was great and the Keys still have a warm place in my heart. My mother, who is an immigrant from Costa Rica, often befriended other immigrant mothers and this recipe comes from a lovely Japanese woman that was her friend. It became a favorite in our household and was

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-39621098057152824522010-09-02T20:55:00.000-07:002010-09-10T18:06:39.889-07:00

Tropical Fish Cakes with Avocado/Papaya relish. Inspired by my love of Thai food and locally grown ingredients from my home town of Miami, these cakes are a combination of fish and crab cakes, served with a spicy tropical relish of avocado and papaya. Fish-crab Cakes Make 8 cakes. 2- 6 ounce cans of crab meat or 1/2 lb fresh crab meat picked over for shells. 1/2 lb mild white, Atlantic

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-6080748445871674722010-09-02T20:33:00.000-07:002010-09-02T23:28:09.136-07:00

I love Miso soup. There is something comforting about a steamy bowl of soup that soothes the soul. Tonight I was seeking that comfort after a rainy, gloomy day. Within about 15 minutes tops, I had a healthy dinner, a full stomach and a calm spirit. I just made a simple Miso soup; the type I get in restaurants with my sushi. Only there seems to be something so much better about homemade Miso Soup.

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308483508538846823.post-5305690901995996352010-05-21T10:26:00.000-07:002010-05-21T10:32:10.510-07:00

In these challenging economic times, that old stand by, canned tuna has come back into vogue. Personally, I've always loved tuna salad and have even made it with left over fresh tuna steaks, (pretty awsome!) although I cook them through before tossing in the dressing. There are so many uses for canned tuna aside from the traditional tuna salad sandwich. You can make tuna cakes, like crab cakes

Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821000093424173441noreply@blogger.com0