In collaboration with Aruba Tourism.
I love trying new cuisines from around the world. There are so many different ways to combine herbs and spices with fruits, vegetables, fish, meats and grains, and I love learning about new techniques and flavour combinations.
I was recently sent a food hamper filled with delicious Caribbean treats from Aruba Tourism, much to the delight of myself and my children who love going through and taste testing hampers of new and interesting foodstuffs from around the world.
Hands up, who else started singing the Beach Boys song Kokomo when they read the word Aruba above?
“Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I want to take ya.
Hands up, who else didn’t know Aruba was actually a place? Maybe that was just me and my appalling geographical ignorance.
Image via Shutterstock
Aruba is a small island, not that much bigger than the island of Unst, located in the Caribbean Sea just north of Venezuela (below the letter N in Caribbean Sea on the map above). It belongs to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a Dutch influence is apparent with its cuisine.
Oh look, there’s Nassau! That’s where that island is! (Top left hand corner of the map). I am ashamed to say I only know of that island because of the tv show Black Sails….
Included with the Caribbean food hamper – which featured plantain crisps, papaya puree, Dutch waffle biscuits, Shirley biscuits, jerk seasoning, Banks lager and a speculaas spice mix – was a copy of Shivi Ramoutar’s cookery book Caribbean Modern: Recipes from the Rum Islands (2015) packed full of vibrant and delicious recipes that whisk you away to warmer climes.
I just happened to have all of the ingredients on hand for her jerk marinade, and her jerk pulled pork with watermelon salad sounded utterly divine, so I made this for a late lunch for my husband and I one day. I adapted the recipe slightly in that I used my trusty slow cooker, meaning I could set the pork to cook and then head out into the sun for a morning of cycling. Win-win!
The jerk marinade, one of the Caribbean’s most popular flavours, is a combination of delicious herbs and spices, with the prominent flavour coming from the allspice berries. The original recipe called for a Scotch bonnet pepper which I replaced with some fiery variety from my local veg box grower that I dried last season. The heat from the spice mixture with the succulence of the slow cooked pulled pork and the salty watermelon cubes – it’s a flavour combination that totally works.
I served the jerk pulled pork and watermelon salad with some fried bakes (another recipe in the book) and although I didn’t read the recipe properly and I under-cooked them slightly, they were still a rather fantastic accompaniment, especially when served with some genuine ice cold Caribbean lager.
I froze the remainders of the pulled pork into individual servings for later quick meals. I’m looking forward to reheating them on the BBQ when the summer sun shines!
COMPETITION
Aruba Tourism currently have a fantastic competition on where you could win a luxury holiday to Aruba! To celebrate Aruba’s Eat Local – Restaurant Week this October they’re giving you the chance to win a luxury holiday to their One Happy Island. All you need to do to enter is visit their Facebook page and simply select the Aruban restaurant you’d most like to dine at and then fill in your details!
In the meantime, here’s a little taste of Caribbean cuisine for you! You could always replace the home made jerk seasoning with a few heaped tablespoonfuls of a shop bought variety, but if you only try one thing from this recipe you have to try the sea salted watermelon cubes. Gorgeous!
Jerk Pulled Pork & Watermelon Salad
Ingredients
for the jerk marinade
- 8 whole allspice berries
- 5 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 1 cinnamon stick broken into pieces
- 2 tsp whole coriander seeds
- 8 spring onions roughly chopped
- 8 garlic cloves peeled
- 1 red chilli seeds removed
- 8 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp demerara sugar
- 2 tbsp sea salt
- 5 tsp thyme leaves
- 2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger root peeled and grated
- 3 tsp clear honey
- 1 lime juice only
- 2 tsp rapeseed oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce
for the pulled pork
- 1.8 kg rolled pork shoulder flesh deeply scored
- 1 portion jerk mariade (see recipe above)
- 0.5 tbsp instant coffee granules
- 1 tbsp hot water
- 1 large orange juice only
to assemble
- 1 large orange juice only
- 100 grams watercress
- 1/4 large watermelon cut into small cubes
- sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
for the jerk marinade
- Heat a frying pan over a low heat and gently toast the allspice berries, black peppercorns, cinnamon pieces and coriander seeds, shaking the pan occasionally. Remove from the heat when the aroma of the spices has been released.
- Add the toasted spices to a mortar and pestle and crush until it forms a grainy powder.
- Place the spices into a food processor (I used my Optimum Thermocook) and blitz until a paste has formed.
- This can be stored in a jar in the fridge for up to two weeks, or divide into portions and freeze for up to 3 months, defrosting when needed.
for the pulled pork
- The night before, combine half the jerk marinade with the coffee granules dissolved in the hot water and the orange juice. Massage deep into the scored flesh of the rolled pork shoulder and place into your slow cooker pot, cover, and leave to marinade in the fridge until the next morning.
- Cook the pork on low for 8-10 hours. When cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the pot, shred with two forks, cover and set aside. Reserve any juices in the pot.
- Just before you are ready to serve, heat the remaining jerk marinade in a small saucepan until the spices release their aroma. Mix with the orange juice and any juices at the bottom of the slow cooker pot and bring to the boil. Leave to simmer for a few minutes to reduce.
- Pour the dressing over the pulled pork, tossing to make sure everything is well coated. The pork can be frozen at this stage, or chill it for a few days if you've got a BBQ coming up and reheat on the BBQ.
- To serve, arrange the watercress on a platter and scatter with the cubed watermelon seasoned generously with sea salt (use a lot!). Add the pulled pork and gently toss together.
Notes
Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary was sent a hamper of Caribbean food in exchange for her time creating this post. This is not a paid post and all thoughts and opinions expressed are our own.
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Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home, for now. One eye is always on the horizon.
Mel Sak says
Pork & watermelon – what an interesting combination.
Vai Chin @Rambling Through Parenthood says
I love watermelon but have always just eaten it on its own or in a drink. This looks interesting.
Chloe says
I stumbled across a Caribbean restaurant the other day and oh my it was absolutely incredible. I had jerk chicken and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in so long. I love, love, love watermelon. This sounds so delicious. A definitely must try! x
Jessica says
I can eat watermelon everyday. This looks a tasty dish!
Life as Mum says
This looks and sounds different. Sounds very refreshing and perfect for this weather
Harriet from Toby & Roo says
These looks delicious! I would never have thought to mix the two 🙂
Zoë IKIWN says
This looks absolutely beautiful! I don’t know why but I have never thought to pair pulled pork with watermelon but I can imagine it’s wonderful, love the how the colours look on the plate too. x
Hannah says
I would have never thought to put watermelon in a salad before! x
Leanne says
Definitely giving the Jerk pulled pork ago! I might pair it with something else though!
Kira C says
The caribbean is my favourite place to visit! So much amazing culture to see and such vibrant recipes! I love both pulled pork and watermelon but never tried them together although I can already imagine they’d mix well when I think about it!
Jo says
The thought of pork and watermelon together made me go eeewwww. But then thinking just how spicy jerk is, I can imagine them to go really well together.
Silly Mummy says
Pointless is the TV show that I know Nassau from! How amazing to get a hamper of Caribbean foods – yum! I have to admit that I’m not a fan of pork in most circumstances, but pulled pork is the exception, and I do love jerk marinade. Never had it with, or would have thought of watermelon salad, but it looks really good. (Lucy/R is for Hoppit)
The Nice Nest says
I love a good slow cooker recipe! With a household of males, pulled pork recipes are always a favourite and I would never have thought to try watermelon in a salad but I will now.
jolene says
pulled pork is one of my favorite things to cook!! oh and i never thought of the addition of water melon.. I have to say as a fellow food blogger your photos are amazing.. really inspiring hun x
Anna says
Now this is a different kind of dish. I never thought pairing a savory dish with watermelon. Is something different, my mum would actually like it.
Sabrina @ The Mummy Stylist says
I would never have thought to add salt to watermelon and pair with chicken! I’m going to have to try it out! Xx
WhatLauraLoves says
I love the addition of watermelon in this. It seems so fresh and summery xxx
Liz Mays says
Now this sounds good. I love that Caribbean flavor combo! It would be so cool to visit Aruba!
Sarah Bailey says
This sounds absolutely amazing – I totally love pulled pork so I need to try this.x
Rachel says
I am so intrigued by this, my brain wants to hate it but I really want to try it x
Camilla says
Holy moly this looks divine Elizabeth, all those flavours and then the simple watery sweetness of the watermelon to contrast, heaven on a platter right there!
Stella says
Wow. Pork and watermelon salad sounds very juicy.
Rhian Westbury says
The jerk pulled pork sounds great but I’m not so sure of watermelon in a salad. Sounds very tropical though x
Angela Milnes says
Oh Elizabeth this looks delicious and the watermelon! Yum Yum!
Swayam says
Wow!! This looks incredible.. And so vibrant! Never thought you could pair watermelon with pork.
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
Lol.. This made me laugh- ‘your appalling geographical ignorance’ hehe. I want a basket of goodies dropped off at my door!!!
Laura @ dearbearandbeany says
I would never think to pair them together, but it does look very tempting. I love jerk pork X
Revathi Palani says
Looks delicious. Love the bright colors which the salad adds. Yum 🙂
kate @veggie desserts says
I totally started singing Kokomo 🙂 I love trying different cuisines as well, and the combos in your jerk marinade sound amazing! Along with the watermelon this is an absolute winner.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I just love watermelon in a salad!
We are looking at going to Aruba next year, as it looks beautiful.
Sara | Belly Rumbles says
What a wonderful gift hamper to receive. Your jerk pulled pork looks sensational and I love that you have paired it with a watermelon salad.