ECNETNews, NEW YORK, NY: This weekend, we invite you to explore the delicious national dish of Aruba, Keshi Yena. Known for its rich flavors and cultural significance, this hearty recipe is perfect for special celebrations or when you want to experience a new culinary adventure. Bring a taste of Aruba into your kitchen by recreating this beloved Caribbean specialty.
Keshi Yena – A Traditional Recipe from Aruba
Create a cheese shell using Edam or Gouda slices to line a casserole dish, adding a layer of egg mixture, followed by the meat filling and hard-cooked eggs. Cover the dish with more cheese slices, seal with additional egg, and cook in a double boiler or water bath. Once set, invert and serve warm for the best texture.
- Scooped Edam cheese rind
- 1 lb. chicken breasts
- 1 lb. chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper
- Poultry seasoning
- Minced onion
- 4 quarts water
- 2 tsp. salt
- 12 peppercorns
- 1 or 2 onions
- 1 celery stalk, bruised
- 3 tomatoes, diced
- 4 onions, sliced
- 1 large green pepper, chopped
- 1 Tbs. parsley, minced
- 2 Tbs. ketchup
- 1/4 cup pimento olives, sliced
- 1 Tbs. capers
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 2 Tbs. piccalilli
- 3 eggs
- 1 or 2 hard-cooked eggs
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Start by rubbing the chicken with lime juice and seasoning with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Allow it to marinate for several hours before cooking.
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Broil until browned, then bake at 350°F for one hour. Once cool, debone the chicken and set aside.
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Sauté onions, tomatoes, green pepper, parsley, and seasoning in a pan. Add the previously prepared chicken and mix well.
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Stir in ketchup, olives, capers, raisins, and piccalilli. Simmer until thickened.
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Beat three eggs and mix with the cooled meat mixture. Prepare your cooking vessel with the cheese rind lining the bottom.
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Layer the meat mixture in the vessel, placing hard-cooked eggs within. Cover with cheese slices.
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Seal the vessel with egg mixture and cook in a double boiler for about an hour and fifteen minutes.
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Carefully invert the Keshi Yena onto a platter and serve warm to enjoy the full flavor.
Experience the culinary legacy of Aruba with Keshi Yena, a dish that embodies the island’s vibrant history and flavors. Recreate this savory delight at home to savor Aruba’s culinary pride.
