Kallaloo - Virgin Islands Style

Ingredients

• 1 large ham bone, with meat attached (may substitute with seafood)
• 1 16-ounce package frozen cut okra
• 2 medium-sized onion, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped including green leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 pound boned flaked fish or combination of fish and crabmeat
• 1 16-ounce package frozen chopped spinach or 1 10-ounce package of Swiss chard, chopped
• 1 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• Salt, pepper and additional seasoning to taste

Instructions

1. Place ham bone in a large soup pot. Add water to cover bone.
2. Bring water to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
3. Remove bone from pot.
4. Add okra, onion, celery, parsley, thyme, garlic, fish or fish and crab, and spinach or chard and cilantro to the water.
5. Bring ingredients back to a boil.  Reduce heat and let simmer for 1 hour, or until mixture has the consistency of a thick stew.
6. Meanwhile, cut meat from ham bone and add to the pot.Add more water if needed to prevent ingredients from burning.
7. Stir in vinegar just before serving (this prevents a layer of slime from the greens from forming on top.)