Provision Soup

Ground provision is very close to my heart when it comes to Trini cooking. They go along great with so many other things you can find in a trini kitchen. You can have provision and saltfish, smoke herring, callaloo, smoke bone…. almost anything. Of course you may remember that I did Provision and Saltfish already so today I’m showing you another way we Trinidadians love to cook provision.

Ground Provision

Before I go; since I started this blog I’ve noticed something about food. Many Trinis abroad have always told me how the food I post makes them feel close to home. In my opinion, I feel food has a cultural identity or a connection, just like music, that makes people have that sense of belonging to a country or specific group in a society; A “this is mine” feeling or to say it in trini ( dat is we ting). A feeling that makes you feel proud of your nationality. Have you ever felt this way about food? …. Just something I have noticed so far on this journey. I’m sure many readers may have that one dish that gives them that “close to home” feeling. Feel free to share your comment. I would love to hear about it.

Provision Soup Recipe

Anyhow, the provision soup is complete in itself, but for all those “meat mouths” out there you can add some smoke bone or pigtail to enhance the soup’s flavour. Just remember to pressure cook it first. Here’s provision soup .

Provision Soup

PROVISION SOUP

1 yam
3 large potatoes
7 green bananas
1 cup split peas
2 medium dasheen
7 eddoes (about 1 lb)
4 bouillon cubes (optional)
1 soup pack (e.g. maggi vegetable soup)
1 carrot
1 hot pepper
4 pimento peppers
1 cup flour

Pressure cook the split peas with the chopped carrot and pimento peppers until soft.

Wash and peel the provision and place in a large pot to boil.

In a bowl crush the bouillon cubes and mix in the soup pack.

Note:For the really health conscious you can substitute the bouillon cubes and soup pack with your favourite seasonings. In my case I could add chive, chopped chadon beni, celery, onion, garlic, fine leaf thyme and big leaf thyme.

Add the the bouillon cube mixture and the hot pepper to the pot.

Allow to simmer

In a bowl mix the flour and a little water ( about 2/3 cup ) to make the dumpling.

Roll out the dough length ways and cut into ½ ” pieces.

When the provision is just about cooked ( test it with an ice pick or knife), add the split peas and the dumpling. The dumplings should be done in 10 to 15 minutes time. Add salt to taste.

The soup looks ready now. Serve hot.

That’s it for another post. See you soon. Bye!