Need ideas for an Island Party

[LaraW]

We have supper club this weekend, and the theme is an Island Party - with Spring coming, and the fact that our hosts have just finished installing a new kitchen island, we thought that would be appropriate to celebrate.

DH an I need to bring an appetizer and/or side dish. Anyone have any ideas for spring?

Thanks!!

Lara

[funnybone]

My first thought for "Island" was "Carribean" and I thought of Plantains or seafood.

I know there was a recipe for Plantain Chips from CL, although I never made them. Here is the recipe, along with another Carribean dishes from CL:

Plantain Chips

For the best result, select moderately ripe plaintains to make these chips.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium plantains, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch diagonal slices (about 2 cups)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper


Directions
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the plantain slices; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Sprinkle salt and pepper over chips.


Preparation Time: 4 minutes
Cooking Time: 6 minutes
Servings/Serving Size: Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup).

Nutrition Facts (per Serving):
190 calories; 42 g carbohydrates; 0 mg cholesterol; 3.9 g fat; 152 mg sodium; 1.7 g protein; 4 mg calcium; 0.8 mg iron; 0.7 g fib



Conch Salad

The conch is "cooked" by the acidity of the citrus juices, so be sure to chill this salad after it's assembled for at least one hour.


Ingredients
1 pound uncooked conch or bay scallops
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped tomato
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons minced Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


Directions
Place the conch between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap, and pound to a 1/2-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Cut conch into 1/4-inch-wide strips. (If using scallops, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallops; cook 5 minutes, and drain.)

Combine conch or scallops and the remaining ingredients in a large bowl; cover and chill for at least 1 hour.


Preparation Time: 76 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes
Servings/Serving Size: Yield: 5 servings (serving size: 1 cup).

Nutrition Facts (per Serving):
157 calories; 16.4 g carbohydrates; 30 mg cholesterol; 3 g fat; 560 mg sodium; 17.1 g protein; 54 mg calcium; 1.2 mg iron; 2.8 g fiber

[kwormann]

How about a rice dish with green onions, toasted coconut and pineapple chunks?????

[LaraW]

That is a good idea Kim - I think that sounds good.

Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but with plantain chips, what do you serve them with? Nothing or some kind of salsa? I don't know if I am brave enough to do a seafood dish where you relied on the acid of the sauce to "cook" the seafood.

Thanks for your ideas!!

Lara

[Peggy C.]

Grilled mahi mahi kabobs with pineapple? I had them at the Ritz Carlton last year for spring/island themed promo they were doing. Add in a little bit of red bell pepper for color!

[KelLeg]

I have a rice recipe that would be good. I don't have it here, but basically, I think you put some mango chutney into hot rice, then add diced red pepper, crushed pineapple, toasted almonds and maybe a bit of ginger. If you want more specifics, let me know.

[sassafras]

Carribean Cuisine was featured in Cooking class 101 last sumer. There were a lot of great recipes for food and drinks. I think that that page is accessible from CL main page under "Cooking Classes"

I made the Jerk Prk tenderloin and it was just like being back in Negril!!:D

Sarah

[Linda in MO]

Originally posted by KelLeg
I have a rice recipe that would be good. I don't have it here, but basically, I think you put some mango chutney into hot rice, then add diced red pepper, crushed pineapple, toasted almonds and maybe a bit of ginger. If you want more specifics, let me know.

I would like to see this recipe. It sounds yummy! Thanks!

[KelLeg]

Here is the recipe. I got it from a cooking class in St. Louis many years ago.

Sweet Jamaican Rice
4 c hot cooked rice
1/4 t ground ginger
1 11-oz. can mandarin oranges, drained and chopped
1 8-oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 c chopped red bell pepper
1/2 c slivered almonds, toasted
1/3 c sliced green onions
1/4 c flaked coconut, toasted
2 T hot mango chutney

Combine all ingredients in a bowl if rice is hot. If not, mix all in skillet over med. heat, stirring constantly, 6 minutes or until thouroughly heated.

8 servings

[LaraW]

KelLeg - that recipe looks really good....how how do I decide?????


BTW, does anyone know - do you dip plantain chips in anything? I feel like a big ole plantain virgin!! :rolleyes:

Lara

[JulieM]

Lara, here's another idea for a side dish. It's a cold, black bean salad that's really good:

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
Bag of frozen corn
1 red pepper, diced
1 orange pepper, diced
Red onion, diced
4-5 jalapeno peppers, chopped fine
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Olive oil
Seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar

Just mix everything together and chill. This recipe was passed to me without exact measurements on the last 3 ingredients, so I just experiment to my own taste, but I use a lot of cilantro. It's always a big hit when I make it.

Julie

[KelLeg]

I recently had plantains at a Tommy Bahama Cafe and I think they were served with a black bean salsa. They were great.

[Linda in MO]

Thanks, KelLeg. That looks really different and good!