Original Flava: Caribbean Recipes from Home

Product Information

Please hit like if you enjoyed this review and let me know of any other cookbooks or comforting recipes you think I should try. The first recipe we tried was Pepper Steak, a rich, mouth-watering meal with a fiery kick that I just had to share with you!

Brothers, Shaun and Craig, created Original Flava in 2016, a Caribbean food and lifestyle platform packed with easy, authentic and modern recipes. There are many recipes of greedy interest: Plantain Hummus; Caribbean-Spiced Jackfruit Wraps with Plum Sauce; Corn Fritters; Tomato and Coconut Pasta; a tremendous Curry Tofu and Vegetables, which I nearly selected to run here; Cauliflower Burger with Spicy Mayo, Slaw and Mango Chutney; Sweet Potato and Chickpea Peanut Stew with Jollof Rice; a fabulous meat-free take on Pepper Pot Soup; Yam Fries with Scotch Bonnet Sauce or Chilli Jam, and there’s also a recipe for Mango Chilli Sauce I have my eye on.This cookbook definitely delivers on what it promises in that every recipe is packed with spices, peppers, and other flavourful foods to guarantee meals that will leave your taste buds happy. In April 2016, they launched the Original Flava brand, sharing videos of them cooking simple Caribbean recipes. I think if you’re more familiar with Caribbean cooking this won’t be a problem for you, but if you aren’t, just be prepared for it. A vibrantly designed Caribbean vegan cookbook from the internationally celebrated duo behind Original Flava. With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing plc for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jamaican food also has an authentic vegan history with the Rastafarian Ital diet ('Ital' is a natural, unprocessed, plant-based diet used to promote wellness). The most important thing, we think, is the togetherness food brings­ – the same happiness we have with our family.

Our Mum and Nanny taught us to cook, and Original Flava is all about meals that are vibrant, lively, exciting, and full of the influences from different cultures that make the Caribbean island of Jamaica so wonderful. That one detail is what truly keeps this from being a favourite for me simply because I’m not sure how feasible some of these recipes would be.

Rastafari is an expression of unity with all things, and the Ital diet reflects that through a sense of peace and togetherness with the natural world. Their videos went viral and within a month they had garnered 70k followers and had been interviewed on TV.There were a few ingredients I couldn’t get, but used alternatives and the dish was still VERY good! By the way, I used vegetable shortening (in the form of Trex, which is much the same as Crisco) rather than the vegan butter stipulated in the recipe, as I always have it in the fridge for pastry. Natural Flava brings together Ital inspiration, punchy Caribbean flava and quick and easy recipes in this feel-good cookbook. Then use a frying pan with 1 tbsp of olive oil on medium-high heat and fry the onion, garlic and scotch bonnet pepper/chillies (all chopped) for 3-5 mins. I can’t wait to try making some of the recipes and see for myself what my students were talking about.