Your Fave Tropical Recipe???

[golden1225]

Our supper club theme this month is Tropica[ - just in time for the lovely days of summer! Would you post your favorite tropical-themed recipes?
TIA!
:D

[syzygy]

The only thing slightly tropical about this is the watermelon, I guess, but it's great for a summertime party.

Drunken Watermelon
1 medium size watermelon, ice cold
1 quart red wine of your choice, or 1 bottle champagne, or 1 pint cognac (or whatever floats your boat):D

Cut 3 or 4 plugs (1-1/2 to 2 inches deep) along top of the melon. Pour in the wine, very slowly, until it is all absorbed. Replace plugs and return to refrigerator for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.

[slknight]

We did a tropical theme one January in the middle of a snowstorm. Quite a lot of fun. :D Tropical is kind of vague since there are so many different tropical cultures, but we mixed and matched cuisines and didn't really care. I would say anything with pineapples and mangos is good. I know we had the CL mango and black bean salad. If you do a search, you will also find Gail's mango bread. We had some kind of rice too, that I think had pineapple and maybe coconut in it. I'll see if I can dig up the exact name. You might want to try grilling some Caribbean jerk chicken too.

[cocoa'smom]

Gotta put in a vote for "Island Pork Tenderloin Salad" on epicurious.com!

[Laura]

I really like CL's Spicy Tropical Gazpacho.

[Beth]

The salad I posted on this earlier thread (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6591&highlight=shrimp+and+pineapple) is really good, very tropical and a bit different. As noted, we made it with shrimp instead of lobster and didn't do the pinapple boats for show.

We have also used the pinapple recipe above that -- with only pineapple as well as with a mixture of melon (watermelon, canteloupe, honeydew) or pineapple and melon with either basil as written there or the basil and mint combination as in the salad.

I also made a Mango Sorbet last year that was wonderful. It was posted here, I think, but I can help you find that if you like. I used fresh mangoes, but you can get canned mago pulp that would be fine too.

There are probably a lot of others, but I've looked at those recently, so they are on my mind.

[Beth]

If you do grilled chicken (jerk with a mango salsa???), white rice made with a good squirt of lime juice and some chopped cilantro stirred in at the very end makes a really good side. I'm getting hungry! :p

[Middydd]

Originally posted by cocoa'smom
Gotta put in a vote for "Island Pork Tenderloin Salad" on epicurious.com!

I'll second that one!! I like to substitute either dried tart cherries or cranberries for the raisins, I find they have a tangier taste that cuts through the overall sweetness in the recipe.

[Ohioan]

I'm almost embarrassed by this one, but I used to make it all the time - for years and years. (Can't find the author of the book, unfortunately. :()

Cheers,
Phoebe


* Exported from MasterCook *

South Seas Pork

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 2 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Pork

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 lb pork loin, lean, boneless -- cut into 1" cubes
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
3 Tbsps soy sauce
1 Tbsp oil
1 green bell pepper -- sliced
1 med onion -- sliced thin
1 carrot -- sliced thin
3/4 c bamboo shoots -- sliced
1/2 4 oz can pineapple chunks in juice
1/8 c sugar
1 Tbsp vinegar
1/8 c tomato sauce
1/2 c water
salt and pepper -- to taste

Coat meat cubes with flour and 1/2 Tbsp of soy sauce. Heat oil in a heavy skillet and brown the pork cubes all over. Arrange in a baking dish. In the same skillet, saute lightly the green pepper, onions, carrot, bamboo shoots, and pineapple. Stir in the sugar, the rest of the soy sauce, vinegar, tomato sauce, water, and salt and pepper to taste. Add the mixture to the pork in the casserole. Cover and bake 30 minutes at 350F.

Mix the cornstarch with a little water and stir into the casserole. Correct seasoning, and bake uncovered another 15 minutes.

Source:
"Casserole Treasury"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 366 Calories; 12g Fat (29.5% calories from fat); 25g Protein; 41g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 51mg Cholesterol; 1698mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 3 Lean Meat; 3 1/2 Vegetable; 1/2 Fruit; 1 1/2 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates.

NOTES : Fully tested.
Nutr. Assoc. : 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

[Terrytx]

I have made this with and without the shrimp.

* Exported from MasterCook *

Caribbean Cobb Salad

Recipe By :Cooking Light-3/98
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Low Fat Salads


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
4 cups torn romain lettuce
1 pound med. shrimp -- cooked & peeled
1 cup cubed peeled papaya
1 cup cubed fresh pineapple
1/2 cup chopped peeled avocado
1/2 cup chopped red or green bell pepper
1 (15oz) can black beans -- rinsed & drained
1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack
2/3 cup Orange-Soy Vinaigrette
1/4 cup chopped unsalted cashews -- toasted

Orange-Soy Vinaigrette
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons frsh lime juice
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper

1. Arrange lettuce on a serving platter. Spoon the shrimp down the center
of paltter; arrange papaya, pineapple, avocado, bell pepper, black beans,
and cheese in rows on either side of shrimp. Drizzle Orange-Soy
Vinaigrette over salad; sprinkle with cashews.

2. Combine all vinaigrette ingreds. in a jar; cover tightly, and shake
vigorously.





* Exported from MasterCook *

Jamaican Jerk Burgers with Orange-Chipotle Mayonnaise

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Beef Grilling
Sandwiches, Burgers, Wraps

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
Orange-Chipotle Mayonnaise:
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon minced canned chipotle chilies
Jerk Sauce:
1 bunch green onions, coarsely chopped (about 1
1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 small habanero chile or 2 medium jalapeno
chilies, seed, chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 pounds ground beef (15% fat)
6 sesame seed hamburger buns, toasted
1 onion, thinly sliced
3 tomatoes, sliced
6 romaine lerruce leaves

For Orange-Chipotle Mayonnaise: Mis all ingredients in a small bowl.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.

For Jerk Sauce: Finely chop first 4 ingredients in processor. Add sugar
and next 3 ingredients; process until almost smooth. Season with salt and
pepper.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Set aside 3/4 cup jerk sauce. Shape
ground beef into 6 (1/2 to 3/4-inch-thick) patties; place in a 13 x 9 x
2-inch glass baking dish. Pour 1/2 cup jerk sauce over patties and turn
to coat; let stand 20 minutes.

Sprinkle patties with salt and pepper. Grill to desried degree of
doneness, brushing occasionally with remaining jerk sauce, about 4 minutes
per side for medium.

Spread mayonnaise over cut surface of buns. Place burgers on bottom
halves on buns. Top with onion slices, tomato slices, lettuce, and bun
top. Serve, passing reserved 3/4 cup jerk sauce separately.

Description:
"Automatic Slim's Tonga Club-Memphis, Tenn."
Source:
"Bon Appetit-9/02"

[zackaboo]

We just had CL's island rice last night (recently recommended by someone on this board) and it was great! Tastes very much like risotto in that it gets creamy and it is a great side dish to balance a spicy pork or chicken...very tropical.

[acb11]

This is very refreshing. Kids love it, too.

Mom’s Pina Colada Fruit Dip
3 ½ oz. package instant coconut cream pie pudding
½ C. sour cream
8 oz can of crushed pineapple, untrained
¾ C. milk

Combine and blend. Refrigerate overnight. Serve with cut fruit.

[Laura B]

CL's Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa is delicious, and I think would definitely qualify as tropical!

[shopsticks]

I may be too late... but Paula Deen's episode today at 10:30 est is on Caribean Cooking. Thought you could get some great ideas from her show!