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+ servings
A large white bowl of crab and callaloo with a piece of crab set in the middle laying on a white counter top.

Tobago Crab and Callaloo

This easy crab and callaloo recipe combines dasheen bush, fresh herbs, and creamy coconut milk into a rich, savory side dish. A Trinidad and Tobago favorite that’s often served with Sunday lunch or enjoyed as a soup all on its own.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Caribbean
Calories: 338

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bunch 10–15 leaves callaloo bush (dasheen bush or taro leaves)
  • 1 pack ochro/okra about 12–15 pieces; see notes
  • 2 cups coconut milk homemade or canned
  • 4 pimento peppers chopped
  • 1/2 tsp brown sugar
  • 3 cloves garlic crushed
  • 3 whole cloves lightly crushed
  • 1/3 cup diced pumpkin calabaza or substitute butternut squash
  • 1 tbsp green seasoning make your own
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 whole hot peppers Scotch bonnet or habanero
  • 2 –3 crabs cleaned and chopped

Method
 

  1. Wash and chop dasheen bush leaves, discarding any tough stems.
  2. Add all ingredients (except crabs and hot peppers) to a large saucepan or heavy-bottomed pot.
  3. Pour in coconut milk and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  4. Add crabs and whole hot peppers.
  5. Reduce heat to medium and let simmer until coconut milk has reduced by half (about 25–30 minutes).
  6. Carefully remove the hot peppers and crabs and set aside.
  7. Use a swizzle stick or immersion blender to blend the callaloo until thick and smooth.
  8. Return crab to the pot, stir, and taste for salt and pepper before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal

Notes

Callaloo bush = dasheen bush = taro leaves. Baby spinach is a decent backup if needed.
I use about 2 ochros per leaf of callaloo bush.
Tough stems = old bush. If they bend and don’t snap, skip them — they’ll make the dish bitter.
For extra flavor, sauté garlic and onion in a bit of oil first before adding everything else (optional method).
You can also make this dish with salted pigtail — boil first to remove excess salt, then add it with the coconut milk.

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