Dining
Dining
Spice it Up! by Rosanna Mignacca
“Nothing is pleasant that is not spiced with variety.” Francis Bacon, 1561-1626
The rich spices that flavor Aruban recipes have a fascinating history. They’ve been used as currency and even been the cause of wars. Peppercorn, the king of spices, was once traded ounce for ounce for pure gold. In the 11th century, European towns kept their accounts in pepper; taxes and rents were paid in peppercorns. A sack of this now widely used spice was literally worth a man’s life. Luckily for us, great spices are now affordable and readily available for everyday use. Today, we can all enjoy freshly ground pepper, or the delicious warm aromas and tastes of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. It seems hard to believe that these fragrant bits of leaves, bark, and seeds were once so precious. Men willing to risk their lives for nutmeg? When you realize that the spice was acclaimed for its powers of healing and magic and even believed to make one irresistible to the opposite sex... it starts to make sense! Aruban cuisine is a delightfully spicy mix of tastes, textures, and colors... a wonderful Dutch treat with influences from all over the globe. From the Caiquetio and Arawak Indians who seasoned their food with fiery chilies, cassava root vin-
64 Nights
egar, and annatto seed to the hearty meals of the first settlers from the Netherlands; from the simmering, steaming African pots that influenced the Caribbean pepperpots to the succulent seafood dishes of the Spanish and Portuguese; condiments and seasonings have always played an important role on the island. Spices provide the signature taste for delicious Aruban dishes like stoba (stew) and sopi (soup). The more you know about spices, the more you can use them to enhance and complement your own favorite foods. Allspice sounds like a mixture of different spices, but it’s really made from a simple berry of the pimento tree. It has a heavy sweetness reminiscent of cloves, cinnamon, and a hint of nutmeg. It’s often the special secret ingredient in the best barbecue sauces! Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. Threads of saffron are actually the stigmas of an autumn-blooming crocus. It takes more than 70,000 handpicked blooms to make a pound of the spice, which adds a unique delicacy, fragrance, and rich color to dishes such as seafood and paella. E
Photo by Georgina Palmer
Nights 65
Dining
Jerk seasoning
Coriander spice comes from the seeds of the coriander plant, which is related to the parsley family. It has a pleasant sweet odor with a lemon top note and a fl avor that blends well with cumin. It’s an essential ingredient in great chilies and is also used to fl avor baked goods. Chili peppers, and more specifi cally, Scotch bonnet peppers, are responsible for much of the heat that is so common to tropical cuisine. These crinkly, colorful gems are diminutive but pack a powerful, knockout punch, earning 9 out of 10 on the Scoville chart, which measures the amounts of the heat-inducing capsaicin
compound found in peppers. Ranging in hues from orange to red brown and white, Scotch bonnets give fl avor, spice, and color to local dishes including gumbos, soups, and even chocolate cake. But be warned: actually ingesting one of these little balls of fire is only for the brave of heart. Jerk cooking is one of the most po pular and competitive traditions in the Caribbean. At its heart lies the seasoning – a combination of up to 30 different spices including garlic, hot peppers, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. Sprinkled either directly on the meat or mixed
with a liquid to form a thick marinade, the seasoning is loaded with fl avor and is used on everything from chicken to fi sh and for both barbecuing and baking. Let’s not forget the health benefi ts of these spices... European explorers to the Caribbean not only discovered the islands, they also learned that a diet of chili-spiced food kept their crews healthier on the long sea voyages. More recent fi ndings have revealed that cinnamon, for example, has anti-clotting and antiinfl ammatory properties, that it is a powerful antioxidant, and that just smelling it can boost performance and alertness. And, spices add excitement to healthy low fat meals. Make fi sh steaks mouthwater ing with a Caribbean tomato-based sauce replete with allspice, bay leaves, cayenne, and a fresh green chili. Each spice carries its own unique, savory, aromatic property that will add a gourmet touch to the simplest of dish es. Add some spice to your life. Enjoy Aruba’s fl avorful ethnic heritage and wealth of irresistibly delicious dishes.
Welcome home! Nestled on picturesque Eagle Beach, we have been providing fine cuisine and excellent service for over twenty years. Treat yourself to prime U.S. Black Angus steak. Choose the most delicately prepared rack of lamb, succulent seafood dishes and locally caught fi sh, or enjoy one of our traditional European dishes. Select wines from around the world and do not miss our Viennese apple strudel and Toblerone chocolate fondue! Only a short drive from all hotels, visit us for a romantic dinner for two or for large parties and celebrations.
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TO
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PM .
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Photo by Craig Mcateer