At a glance
- Antillean turkey colombo is a simmered dish, turkey and vegetables seasoned with colombo powder
- Origin: Guadeloupe and Martinique, a creolized curry born of 19th-century Indian immigration
- Essential ingredients: turkey, colombo powder, garlic, onion, eggplant, potato
- A simmered family dish, often served on Sundays with white rice
Origins and cultural history of turkey colombo
Colombo was born in the French Antilles from the arrival, after the abolition of slavery in 1848, of indentured Indian workers, coming notably from the Coromandel Coast: they brought with them their spice blends and their curry preparations. The name of the dish is thought, according to various sources, to come from a Tamil term for a spiced sauce preparation, or from the name of the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka, a stop on the journey of many indentured workers; both origins circulate without either being settled with certainty. Indian curry was then creolized with local spices and herbs, to become the colombo known today in Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Traditionally prepared with chicken, pork, goat or fish, colombo is also cooked with turkey, a meat that is easy to find in mainland France and that absorbs the spices well during the simmered cooking. The dish is passed down within the family, often for a Sunday meal.
What are the essential ingredients of turkey colombo
Turkey colombo is prepared with a precise blend of spices, found in most African and Caribbean grocery stores, including NKOSI.
- turkey
- colombo powder (contains mustard)
- garlic and onion
- eggplant and potato
- tomato
- Antillean chili pepper, optional
What to know about turkey colombo
Turkey colombo is a creolised Antillean curry: turkey simmered with aubergine, potato, onion, garlic and tomato in a sauce made with colombo powder, a spice blend that contains mustard. Turkey, a meat that is easy to find in mainland France, absorbs the spices well during the slow cooking. It is served with white rice, often on Sundays, at family meals in Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Frequently asked questions about turkey colombo
Does turkey colombo contain allergens?
Yes: the colombo powder used in this recipe contains mustard, an allergen regulated in the European Union. Check the ingredient list of the spice blend you use to confirm its exact composition.
Can turkey be replaced with chicken in this colombo?
Yes, without changing the rest of the recipe: chicken is even the most common meat for this dish. Simply adjust the cooking time according to the cuts chosen, turkey generally needing a few minutes more than chicken.
Where to find the ingredients for turkey colombo in France?
NKOSI sells the SAMIA colombo powder, garlic paste and whole chives used in this recipe and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
