Aruban Keshi Yena
Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, also known as the ABC islands, are Dutch isles in in the Caribbean Sea. Keshi Yena is very popular in Aruba and Curaçao. It is said that slaves invented this dish. They filled the shell of a large Edam or Gouda cheese with whatever leftovers they could find. If you are not a fan of cheese, you can use less or no cheese. The filling is also delicious as a sauce with or without tomatoes for pasta or pizza.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground meat*)
- 2 cups diced tomatoes from a can
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 18-24 oz cheese**) sliced
- 4-6 cups cooked rice
- 2 onions chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 eggs
- oil butter, salt
Keshi Yena Culinary Spice Kit
- Black peppercorn, garlic, onion, chili pepper, oregano, sage
Recommended
- 1 tsp capers
- 1/4 cup green olives sliced
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- (1) In a PAN, heat 2 tbsp of oil over medium heat.
- Add onions, garlic, bell pepper, meat, Keshi Yena spices, and salt to taste.
- Stir-fry until the meat is crumbled and cooked.
- (2) Add tomatoes and your choice of the recommended ingredients.
- Add salt to taste. Mix well.
- Cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
- Stir occasionally. Set aside.
- (3) Preheat the OVEN to 350°F.
- (4) Grease a non-sticking BAKING DISH or 3-4 BAKING BOWLS with butter.
- Line the bottom and sides of the BAKING DISH completely with overlapping cheese slices.
- (5) In a BOWL, whisk the eggs.
- Stir them into the sauce and pour all into the BAKING DISH.
- Cover completely with cheese slices.
- (6) Bake in the OVEN until the cheese is soft and golden brown.
- Serve keshi yena with rice.
- Optionally, add a fresh salad.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Substitute ground meat with shredded or chopped cooked meat, or (partly) with vegetables, for instance, mushrooms, green beans, or eggplants.
*) Chicken and beef are popular. Veal or pork work as well.
**) Edam, Gouda, Cheddar, or your preferred cheese.
**) Edam, Gouda, Cheddar, or your preferred cheese.
Marceline Reid-Jaques
2022-12-14
Karen Jones
2022-12-05
Wonderful, flavorful meals using readily available ingredients!
ann davis
2022-11-29
My daughter gave me a subscription as a Christmas present while our families were quarantining together. It was so much fun! It introduced us to several cuisines that were totally new to us. The recipes were easy to follow and the spices were transformative - fresh and pungent and delicious.
Jessica Brown
2022-05-22
The best way to try new dishes!