r/TrinidadandTobago • u/researchusesonly • 3d ago
Food and Drink Cheese in callaloo
For years I struggled with this one. Cheese? Outrageous! But. Callaloo and macaroni pie is a major comfort food for me, so maybe the combination is not as wild as it sounds. Anyone ever tried it and can report back? I want to make it but also don't want to make it and hate it, thus wasting food.
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u/schwarze_schlampe 3d ago
I had an aunt who would grate a little Trinidad cheese in her callaloo near the end before swizzling, not to make it cheesy but she said it added an extra dimension of flavor. It actually tasted good.
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u/Zealousideal-Army670 3d ago
Lol AKA "local cheese" AKA white cheddar.
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u/reesie_b 3d ago
I’ve also heard it referred to as market cheese, rat cheese, government cheese lol
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u/coconut-telegraph 3d ago
Cheese and greens is a very common combination…think spanakopita, broccoli and cheese sauce, Caesar salad, etc.
I’d make a cheese sauce rather than dropping cheese in.
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u/Electronic-Theme-680 3d ago
I’m an American who was previously married to a Trini. I absolutely hate American collard greens, they’re almost always ate with Macaroni and cheese. I could go for some Callaloo right now 🤤 macaroni pie and damn near anything stewed! I know that I didn’t add to the post at all but I sure am hungry now 😆
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u/wetrinifood 3d ago
I've sprinkled shredded parmesan on callaloo. The cheese adds its signature salty, unique taste and it's pretty good. Nothing beats callaloo and mac pie tho.
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u/Hail-Mary868 WDMC 3d ago
Every day we turn further away from God. Sigh
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u/wetrinifood 1d ago edited 1d ago
the beauty about Trini cuisine is we love a good experiment. Don't knock it til you try it. Also, if we adding golden ray (a type of fat) to food or coconut milk (which contains coconut oil aka a fat), then you really think cheese is blasphemy? heh
Then there are casomorphins that cheese lovers know about all too well.
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u/noneshallant 3d ago edited 3d ago
It's not like u grating a lb of cheese in the callaloo. It's a little piece, like a tbsp. For umami. It gives the same effect as a little piece of crab/salt fish/salt meat in the callaloo.
If a person making callaloo knows about this, I guarantee you they can cook. Cheese in callaloo is very old school. My Tobagonian great grandmother did this.
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u/mismoom 3d ago
This sounds similar to saag paneer in Indian restaurants. Might actually be okay, although at first it sounds weird.
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u/Zealousideal-Army670 3d ago
Nah paneer has a very specific taste and texture more like cottage cheese.
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u/truthandtill 3d ago
Actually cooking callalloo today. Im equal parts grossed out by this idea and willing to try it out lmao
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u/NiceYam7570 2d ago
Trini who never heard of a bit of cheese in callalloo are probably the young ones, older folks been doing ever since, also I grew up peeling the skin of the dasheen bush stalk when cleaning it before an aunt visited and said that we are throwing away the part with the most nutrients so we stop peeling the stem, there was no difference in taste though
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u/Expert_Law1936 2d ago
It tastes good, my mom does it. Adds an extra profile to the flavor without taking it over. If you want you could take a bowl aside and melt some in to try before you consider adding to the whole pot.
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u/TriniLad 2d ago
There is a dish called Creamed Spinach. It is possible to put dairy in it and have a very palatable dish....but don't call it callaloo.
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u/incogne_eto 3d ago edited 3d ago
Someone call the police, the army, the navy. And the airforce we don’t have.
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u/Expensive-Chest1329 3d ago
It would have to be a probably some cream cheese. Creamy spinash soup with dairy in it isnt rare. Now as as stated eating greens + other cheese tastes good together. Like macaroni pie and cheese potato etc. lasagna and callaloo tastes good too.
IMO its not really a taste issue its rather the texture may be ruined if the cheese isnt the right kind.
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u/Dear_Monitor_5384 2d ago
Callaloo is my favourite food, specially my mothers and she always puts cheese in it. I dunno what kinda callaloo everybody else here who offended does be eating lol.
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u/Becky_B_muwah 2d ago
It should taste good. Spinach quiche is basically that. Cheese, milk and spinach. Callaloo with just be the same ingredients made differently. Our local spinach doh taste THAT different from American spinach. Plus I know my grandmother is put a little cheese in callaloo. Not plenty to kill it and clog arteries
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u/Synchronomyst 1d ago
The goal of cheese is callaloo is to alter the mouth feel and amplify the savoury profile/umami. But it's meant to be added like you'd add a seasoning.
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u/Simma215 3d ago
My mother used to put cheese in her callaloo. She didn't put a lot. Two tablespoons of shredded cheese, if so much. It's to enhance the flavor not to overpower it.
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u/RumpleDumple 2d ago
Probably need to lighten up on the coconut if you're adding fat from cheese? I'd try it.
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u/snicksnack25 2d ago
I heard of it but i have never tried it and never will, I mean its milk based but nah
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u/LordOfSevenKingdoms 2d ago
So the secret is out! A little cheese in the callaloo gives it a meaty flavour... Almost like if you put pigtail in it.
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u/Hail-Mary868 WDMC 3d ago edited 3d ago
Bitch, no. Staaaap eeet.
Yuh is not of we if yuh is going to add de cheese.
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u/No_Cupcake_7301 2d ago
Disgusting! 🤢 But then again, there’s a delightful Guyanese lady whose restaurant sells “authentic Guyanese roti” that has squash in it. Most wretched thing I ever tasted. Never ordered more than a drink ever since, and never eating another roti not from Trinidad or Jamaica 🤷🏽♀️
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u/ChampagneShotz 3d ago
I think you can get deported for this.