Ingredients

  • 2 pounds calypso beans
  • 2 cups medium-diced onion
  • 2 poblano peppers, medium dice
  • 10 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1/2 tablespoon crushed red peppers
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 quarts chicken stock
  • Two 12-ounce bottles brown ale beer, such as Cigar City Maduro
  • 2 melting discs Mexican chocolate, such as Taza (about 2.7 ounces each)
  • Salt
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon ground allspice, toasted
  • 3/4 tablespoon dark rum
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 1/2 bunches green onion, chopped
  • 1/2 habanero pepper, seeded and deveined
  • 4 green plantains
  • 1 fresh lime, juiced
  • Salt
  • Four 6-ounce portions fresh fish, such as triple tail, snapper or grouper
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons clarified butter
  • 2 large shallots, thinly sliced on a mandoline
  • 1 cup peeled and julienned jicama
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 2 red guavas, peeled, quartered and julienned
  • 1 carambola (starfruit), discolored edges removed, julienned
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon key lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • Salt

Method

  • For the chocolate calypso beans: Rinse the beans.
  • Rehydrate the beans by soaking them overnight.
  • Drain and rinse.
  • In a large stockpot, saute the onion, poblano peppers and garlic in the olive oil until translucent; do not let the garlic brown.
  • Heat the cumin, crushed red peppers, allspice and cinnamon in a small dry saute pan until toasted.
  • To the sauteed onion mixture, add the beans, toasted spices, chicken stock and brown ale.
  • Raise the heat to high, bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
  • Add the chocolate and simmer, stirring often, until the beans are tender, about 2 hours.
  • When beans are tender, season with salt.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings.
  • For the wet jerk rub: Blend the brown sugar, soy sauce, allspice, rum, thyme, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, green onion and habanero together in blender until smooth.
  • Set aside.
  • For the crusted fish: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Peel and grate the plantains on box grater.
  • Combine the plantains, lime juice, 4 tablespoons of the wet jerk rub and some salt in a bowl and mix to create the crust.
  • Season the fish with salt and top each piece with a layer of the jerk plantain crust.
  • Heat the clarified butter in a large oven-proof saute pan over medium-high heat.
  • Sear the fish crust-side down until the crust is caramelized, about 30 seconds, being careful not to burn.
  • Flip the fish and transfer the pan to the oven.
  • Bake until cooked through, about 7 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish.
  • Do not overcook!
  • For the pickled shallots and jicama: Place the shallots and jicama in a heat-proof bowl.
  • In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, vinegar and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil.
  • Pour over the shallots and jicama and let cool at room temperature.
  • Set aside.
  • For the guava and carambola salad: Combine the guavas, carambola, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil and the pickled shallot and jicama mixture and season with salt to taste.
  • To serve: Top the chocolate calypso beans with the jerk plantain encrusted fish.
  • Top with a portion of the salad mixture that will compliment size of fish.