The controversy surrounding turtle stew in the Cayman Islands dates back to the era before Christopher Columbus. The island is home to turtles, and sailors in short of food would make meals from turtles surrounding them.
After the liberation from colonialists, Caymanians made ends meet selling turtles, birthing the official meal of the country.
Today, turtle stew, with a distinctive taste, is prepared occasionally on Christmas and national celebrations.
Table of Contents
Background and Origin
Turtling in the Cayman Islands dates back to the 17th century, when settlers would harvest turtles for food and sell them commercially to sailors. This dish has metamorphosed into a favorite and national dish in the Islands.
Locals and some visitors enjoy the dish for its high source of protein. The Cayman Islands have turtle farms where most of the meat is harvested for cooking, selling and released back into the sea.
Let’s get started on how to make turtle stew.
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How to Prepare Turtle Stew
Key Ingredients
- Turtle fin
- Tutrle fat
- 1 kg Turtle meat
- 1 tbsp Sea salt
- 2 tbsp black pepper
- 2 onions, minced
- Habenero peppers
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Boil the turtle fin for 30 minutes on high heat, let it cool, then scrape off the scales thoroughly. Cut into pieces and set aside.
- Mix the salt and black pepper in a bowl. Set aside.
- In a saucepan, on medium heat, put the turtle fat in the bottom of the pot. This will help produce oil for the meal. Add some salt and black pepper mixture, onions, garlic, and pepper.
- Scoop in some of the meat into the saucepan on top of the fatty meat. Sprinkle the meat with the salt mixture, onion, garlic, and pepper.
- Add the boiled fins to the pot. Repeat the seasoning process. Then, fill the pot with the rest of the meat and add the rest of the salt mixture and onion.
- Cover the pot and let it simmer on low heat for 3 to 4 hours.
- Taste and adjust the taste.
- Serve with boiled cassava, plantains, cornbread, or rice.
Tips for cooking Turtle Stew
- Always cover the pot before leaving the meat to simmer. Not covering the pot will result in darker cooked meat.
- You don’t have to add a lot of other spices or seasonings when making turtle stew.
- Cook the meat on low heat until they are tender.
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Conclusion
The distinctive taste of turtle stew makes it unique; however, not many people like it. And that’s fine. You can try turtle stew if you find yourself in the Cayman Islands and are curious about other cultures and traditions.
Let me know how it goes.
Hey, Sedi here, a content writer.
Subjects that interest her greatly are how people, lifestyle, relationships, God, technology, and communication interact, empowering and spreading positive messages. She’s an avid reader and a student of personal weekly workouts.
She holds a master’s degree in media and digital communication management.
When she’s not writing or promoting brands digitally, Sedi is busy advocating for plastic-free earth with her local NGO.
