Grenadian Oil Down
A one-pot dish of chicken, salted pig tail, breadfruit, vegetables and spiced coconut milk. Serves 8; preparation times are estimates.
Oil Down is an emblematic dish of Grenada: the ingredients are layered and cooked covered, without stirring, until the breadfruit is tender and little liquid remains in the pot. This version combines chicken and salted pig tail with vegetables, dumplings and coconut milk.
Method
- 01
Boil the pig tail
Put the salted pig tail and both lemon halves in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, boil for 25 minutes, then drain.
25 min - 02
Prepare the chicken and coconut milk
Mix the chicken with the green seasoning, cover, and refrigerate while you prepare the rest. In another bowl, whisk the coconut milk with the turmeric and half the salt.
5 min - 03
Layer the ingredients
In a large pot, spread the chicken and its seasoning over the bottom, then place the drained pig tail on top. Add the breadfruit, green bananas, carrots, pumpkin and okra. Pour over the coconut milk and turmeric mixture and add the remaining salt. Arrange the spinach on top. Cover and cook over medium heat without stirring for 25 minutes.
25 min - 04
Make and add the dumplings
While the pot cooks, mix the flour, water and remaining salt to form a smooth dough that is not sticky. Shape it into small, elongated dumplings. After the first 25 minutes of cooking, place them on top of the spinach.
10 min - 05
Finish cooking
Cover again and cook without stirring for another 30–45 minutes. Check that the breadfruit is tender and only a small amount of liquid remains at the bottom. Stir gently before serving.
45 min
Ingredients
Sources and review
Content researched, cross-checked and automatically validated. Sources consulted:
- Higiene de los alimentos www.aesan.gob.es/seguridad-alimentaria/higiene-alimentos
- What to Eat in Grenada: 25 Traditional Dishes and Drinks www.atastefortravel.ca/5637-a-food-lovers-guide-to-grenada/
- A true taste of Grenada | Caribbean foodie inspiration www.tropicalsky.ie/caribbean-holidays/grenada/a-true-taste-of-grenada
- - YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDfc71HfBww
- International Cooking: Food from Grenada - The Flavor Vortex www.theflavorvortex.com/international-cooking-food-from-grenada/
- Oil Down: Grenada's National Dish - The Foreign Fork foreignfork.com/oil-down/
- Oil Down: Grenada’s National Dish | meat loves salt www.meatlovessalt.com/2014/02/grenadas-national-dish-oil-down/
- Grenada’s National Dish and Spice Island Heritage | Remitly www.remitly.com/blog/en-au/food/national-dish-of-grenada/
- Siete estupendas recetas con granada para aprovechar esta fruta otoñal www.directoalpaladar.com/recetario/siete-estupendas-recetas-granada-para-aprovechar-esta-fru…
State: Published after documentary validation; no “Tested” label is shown.