Across the English-speaking Caribbean, “me belly full” can mean more than just a satisfied stomach, but a heart and soul that’s full too. In Belly Full, food writer of Trinidadian descent Lesley Enston brings us into the overlapping histories of the Caribbean islands through their rich cultures and cuisines.
Eleven staple ingredients—beans, calabaza, cassava, chayote, coconut, cornmeal, okra, plantains, rice, salted cod, and scotch bonnet peppers—hold echoes of familiarity from one island to the next, and their widespread use comes in part from the harrowing impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade and colonialism. As Lesley delves into how history shaped each country and territory’s cuisine, she shows us what we can learn from each island (such as Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, and Cuba) and encourages us to celebrate the delicious differences.
Belly Full provides basic knowledge on choosing, storing, and preparing these ingredients as well as a mix of traditional and creative adaptations to dishes. Recipes are mostly gluten-free and plant-based and include:
• Cornmeal: Pen Mayi from Haiti and Conkies from Barbados
• Okra: Callaloo from Trinidad and Tobago and Fungee from Antigua
• Plantains: Mofongo from Puerto Rico and Tortilla de Plátano Maduro from Cuba
• Salted Cod: Ackee and Saltfish from Jamaica and Accras de Morue from Martinique
Belly Full, with its breadth of stories, recipes, and stunning photography, will leave your stomach and heart more than satisfied.
