Colombo

About This Recipe

Colombo is a vibrant, fragrant curry featuring a distinctive blend of spices, vegetables, and protein. It's a hallmark of Saint-Martinoise cuisine with French Caribbean influences. This colombo is shaped by the home cooks who refined it across generations, balancing tradition with everyday practicality. Served at the table it fills the room — steam rising, deep savory notes, the kind of plate people lean over. Home cooks return to it because the technique is forgiving once the order of operations clicks: build aromatics first, season in layers, and let time do the heavy lifting. The result lands somewhere between everyday and special — humble enough for a weeknight, generous enough for company.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 1.5 lbschicken or pork, cubed
• 2 tbspcolombo spice paste (turmeric, coriander, cumin)
• 2 mediumonions, chopped
• 3 cupscoconut milk
• 2 mediumpotatoes, cubed
• 1 cupgreen beans, cut

Instructions

1. 1

   Brown meat

   Heat oil in a large pot. Brown meat pieces on all sides. Remove and set aside.

2. 2

   Build curry base

   Sauté onions until soft. Add colombo spice paste, cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.

3. 3

   Simmer

   Return meat to pot. Add coconut milk and potatoes. Simmer for 25 minutes until potatoes are tender.

4. 4

   Add vegetables

   Add green beans and cook for final 10 minutes. Taste and adjust spices.

5. 5

   Serve

   Ladle into bowls and serve with rice.

Variations

• •

  Use seafood like shrimp or fish

• •

  Add mango for sweet element

• •

  Include eggplant and other vegetables

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

Storage

Refrigerate up to 5 days; flavors improve over time

Frequently Asked Questions