KALLALOO – A TASTE OF CRUCIAN HERITAGE
The old saying goes, you are what you eat. At VI Food Tours, we genuinely believe that saying is true. The Crucian dish highlighted below is not only rich in taste, but Crucian culture and history as well. Kallaloo is a traditional Crucian soup prepared using a variety of flavorful ingredients that include fish, meat (pork and beef), lobster and/or crab, leafy greens and okra.
A Brief History of Crucian Kallaloo
Like many Caribbean dishes, kallaloo has its roots in West Africa. This delicacy was brought to the Caribbean by enslaved Africans who began using local ingredients to prepare the wonderful dish.
Kallaloo was previously prepared using taro leaves (sometimes called callaloo bush) because the leaves were plentiful in the past. Today, spinach is the widely used alternative as taro leaves aren’t as easy to come by as before. This hearty soup dish is strongly rooted in Crucian DNA and is consumed by locals all year round.
How Kallaloo is Prepared
The preparation of kallaloo can be summarized in four words: Great things take time. Fortunately, every second of its preparation is worth it. Complex and time-consuming, the preparation of kallaloo comprises of several steps; it’s a wonder how the enslaved people of the island even managed to cook it.
The first step requires that all the ingredients are meticulously prepped: fish is flaked, crab and/or lobster is removed from their shells and cut up and leafy ingredients, celery, onions, okra, parsley and garlic are chopped up. After prepping, the ingredients are then cooked in a pot for hours to create the tasty, flavorful soup. When ready, kallaloo is typically served over a ball of fungi – a cornmeal-based dumpling made with okra, salt and butter.
Fun Facts About Kallaloo
Kallaloo has traditionally been a dish that is served Old Year’s Night (December 31st) in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is considered a meal of good fortune which brings luck in the new year. The belief is if you serve kallaloo to your loved one on Old Year’s Night, there will be a wedding by June in the New Year. However, lovers shouldn’t get too excited because there is a bit of a catch this. While the elders declares that there will be a wedding, they cleverly do not state who will be getting married! The implication is there, so feel free to try your luck!
Hungry for more Crucian flavor? Don’t forget to reserve your spot on the Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours! Learn even more about St. Croix’s fascinating history, architecture, and culture by way of our authentic Crucian cuisine.
