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Jamaican recipesJamaican cuisine & recipes: this is how it feasts on the Caribbean island

What makes the Jamaican cuisine? That's what spoiled us, of all things, a German chef who discovered new worlds of taste as head of a hotel in Jamaica.

At the Iberostar Grand Hotel, Chef Klaus pampers guests with Jamaican and international specialties.
Photo: private
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  1. A German chef in the Caribbean
  2. The Jamaican national dish: Akee & Stockfisch
  3. Jamaicans love jerk chicken
  4. What should not be missing in the Jamaican kitchen?

If you think of Jamaica, Bob Marley, Rum and maybe even the coalition negotiations are coming to mind. The island is so much more - and in addition to a stunning green nature also has a lot to offer culinary.

A German chef in the Caribbean

For this reason, among other things, Klaus Frauenschläger has ended up on the Caribbean island 15 years ago. Today, the Nuremberg has been working for eight years at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall in Montego Bay, in northwestern Jamaica. His guests even included the Spanish royal couple.

Zum Iberostar-Komplex in Montego Bay gehören drei Hotels - das Beach, Suites und das Grand Hotel.
The Iberostar complex in Montego Bay includes three hotels - the Beach, Suites and the Grand Hotel Rose Hall.
Photo: PR: IBEROSTAR

As a chef, he leads the resort's seven restaurants and surprises guests with new creations. In addition to the two buffets, the native German is also able to live in the five specialty restaurants across the country: Here he develops dishes for the Japanese and Italian offer as well as for the in-house steakhouse and gourmet restaurant:

"It's exhausting, you're always everywhere - but it's still fun!" Says Klaus, when he likes to chat with German guests.

Das Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall verfügt über fünf Spezialitäten- und zwei Buffetrestaurants.
The Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall has five specialty and two buffet restaurants.
Photo: PR: IBEROSTAR

Do not forget the Jamaican cuisine. Klaus has a very special relationship with her - after all, it was her love for a Jamaican woman who, 13 years ago, persuaded him to pack his bags and emigrate completely to the Caribbean.

The chef tells us the typical dishes of Jamaican cuisine - and what makes cooking on the Caribbean island so special.

Because contrary to many expectations, working as a chef in Jamaica is not so different as in Germany. This is mainly due to the strict hygiene regulations that set the island apart from other holiday destinations. This has also surprised Klaus: "Of course you do not expect that. But the standards are very high in Jamaica, the products are of high quality, so of course you like cooking. "

Although the residents are said to have a certain Laid-Back mentality, based on the consumption of certain herbs and certainly can not be dismissed, they take it very carefully with their food: In Jamaica, nothing is on the plate which is not one hundred percent is harmless. This is ensured by guidelines that, for example, aim at sustainability in fishing and the use of hygienically flawless ingredients.

And this very example illustrates pretty much how the mentality of the Jamaicans is to be assessed: they are relaxed but not lazy. And show us Germans that life can be mastered with a little more serenity. Because everything still works in the important things.

Jamaicans value healthy food, which is why fresh produce is always on the table. And you can taste that. What does a typical dish of Jamaican cuisine look like?

Klaus Frauenschläger stammt ursprünglich aus Nürnberg, arbeitet heute aber im Iberostar Grand Hotel auf Jamaika als Chefkoch

Klaus Frauenschläger is originally from Nuremberg, but today works as a chef at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall in Jamaica
Photo: private

The Jamaican national dish: Akee & Stockfisch

Akee is the national fruit of Jamaica and rather unknown in Germany. The fruit is incredibly healthy, but has its pitfalls: consumed immature, it is poisonous. Therefore, it is a must to prepare the ingredient fresh, after it has been harvested ripe - which, by the way, is recognized by the fact that the fruit opens.

Due to their rather neutral taste, Akee likes to be combined with fish and eaten once for breakfast. For the national dish Akee with Stockfisch it is never too early in Jamaica!

Die Akee-Frucht darf nur reif geernet und verarbeitet werden - sonst ist sie giftig.
The Akee fruit may only be harvested and processed ripe - otherwise it is poisonous.
Photo: private

Ingredients:

  • 200g stockfish
  • 1 onion
  • 1 small pepper
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 2 spring onions
  • 1 medium tomato
  • 1 can Akee

Preparation:

  1. Stockfish is usually dried in salt. So you have to put it in water and soften it for a day (or at least six hours) beforehand. Change fluid every 30 to 60 minutes.
  2. Carefully pour off the akee.
  3. Rinse the stockfish again and cut into bite-sized pieces.
  4. Cut onions, garlic, peppers and tomatoes into small pieces.
  5. Heat the oil in the pan, fry the cod and vegetables until the ingredients are cooked.
  6. Add Akee last and mix gently, as the fruit breaks down easily.
  7. Season to taste with salt, pepper and chili powder.
Das Nationalgericht besteht aus einer typisch jamaikanischen Frucht und Stockfisch.
The national dish consists of a typical Jamaican fruit and Stockfish.
Photo: iStock

Jamaicans love jerk chicken

Every street corner is home to so-called jerk grills for a snack. So it's hardly surprising that chef Klaus also uses the island's famous spice for his beach buffet. The spice mixture exists in different composition and can be bought ready. Alternatively, you can mix them yourself:

  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 1 tbsp sugar, thyme, salt
  • 1 ½ tsp allspice
  • 1 teaspoon each of paprika, chilli flakes
  • Each ½ teaspoon cinnamon, black pepper, garlic

The mixture can be used as a spice or with oil and a dash of lime juice as a marinade. This is the meat (usually chicken) rubbed and grilled. Jerk Chicken tastes best if you let the spice marinade over several hours.

What should not be missing in Jamaican cuisine?

Of course, a specialty should not be missing in a Jamaican menu: the rum of its own. The inhabitants of Jamaica are particularly proud of them - and are therefore particularly fond of conjuring up a surprise drink based on the spirit drink.

Delmero, who works as a bartender, for once reveals his secret recipe, "because rum may not be missing in an article about the Jamaican cuisine!":

At the Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall, bartenders pamper their guests with home-made cocktails by the pool.
Photo: private

Morning Glory à la Delmero

Ingredients:

  • 3 cl Jamaican rum
  • 3 cl coconut liqueur
  • 1.5 cl cherry liqueur
  • 1.5 cl Triple Sec
  • Homemade lemonade -> water, lime / lemon juice, cane sugar at will
  • ice cubes

By the way, cocktails in Jamaica can also be ordered "To Go". Because at the latest when one is encouraged by a driver to simply take the welcome drink into the car, the motto of the islanders becomes clear: "You are in Jamaica - break the rules, enjoy yourself!".

Do you miss anything as a German, if you live in the Caribbean?

That's the question that chef Klaus has to ask at the end. He's thinking. Then comes the answer, when you realize that there is still a piece of home in the Bayer: "A good wheat beer!" Well, if that's all.

(Ww4)

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