Grand Life Magazine Summer 23 - Flipbook - Page 21
For many Bahamians, there are few dishes more
comforting than a humble plate of hot Fire
Engine. For those not familiar with Bahamian
dialect, this is not a bright red truck used to put
out fires. Instead, it is a simple dish of canned
corned beef that is cooked with fragrant herbs,
onions, sweet peppers, tomatoes or tomato paste
and hot peppers. Many home cooks often add
their own special touches, but there is one thing
that remains constant when serving this ‘delicacy’
- a few spoonfuls of fluffy and buttery white rice.
While corned beef and rice may not sound
exciting, there is a reason that the dish has stood
the test of time on many Bahamian dining room
tables. It is an affordable yet flavorful, and easily
accessible meal that can be stretched and
tailored to feed an entire family.
For Chef Dawkins and his wife Judith, this dish is
one that is simple, yet delicious. Humble, yet
comforting. And, a meal that the professionally
trained and well traveled culinary pro could
prepare in his sleep. But, he has a few tricks up
his sleeve for creating the perfect plate of Fire
Engine.
“I use fresh tomatoes,” Chef Dawkins
shares. “I don't like tomato paste. So, I use
some nice tomatoes that we grow in our
backyard. I then add some thyme to the
onions. Sometimes sweet peppers. I don't
put any water in it. I just let it simmer down
on its own. I also put some corn on the side,
and avocados (also known as pears in The
Bahamas) if they are in season.”
Chef Dawkins also remembers when he first learnt
how to make Fire Engine - it was in his mother’s
kitchen. “I sometimes put potatoes in mine, and
cabbage too, because that's how my mother
made it. She put in lots of cabbage and lots of
potatoes to stretch it out.”
Fire Engine
noun
A Bahamian dish of corned beef, traditionally
cooked with onions, sweet peppers, thyme and
tomatoes, and served with white rice.
