callaloo

noun

cal·​la·​loo ˌka-lə-ˈlü 

ˈka-lə-ˌlü

1

: the edible young green leaves of a plant (such as taro or a member of the genus Xanthosoma) of the arum family used as greens

2

: a soup or stew made with greens, onions, and crabmeat or pork

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Take the soup known as callaloo. —Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 20 June 2022

Some of the people who were captured and enslaved in West and Central Africa starting as early as the 1500s brought seeds for okra, yams, black-eyed peas, plantains, callaloo greens, breadfruit, mangos, ackee fruit, watermelon and peppers to the New World. —Nikki O'neill, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2023

While not widespread garden pests because many of our other vegetables don’t suit them, this particular flea beetle can still hamper the productivity of callaloo. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2023

One of the most beloved and musically named Caribbean dishes is callaloo. —Tamerra Griffin, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Oct. 2022

The shop also sells salads, sides, nonalcoholic beverages and Saturday-only specials of ackee, callaloo and fried dumplings. —Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 6 Oct. 2022

This version was vegetarian (though it’s often punctuated with salted beef or pork), a hearty mix of potatoes, carrots, wilted spinach-esque callaloo and toothsome dumplings. —Nevin Martell, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022

Or the aforementioned callaloo, whose surface of red oil hints at the cayenne punch to come and whose body is deeper for a splash of oxtail juice. —Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 10 June 2022

As one of Trinidad and Tobago’s unofficial national dishes (callaloo is another), pelau is a homegrown darling and its widespread appeal goes beyond its luscious and spiky bite. —Bon Appétit, 17 Mar. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Caribbean English, perhaps ultimately of African origin; akin to Caribbean Spanish calalú callaloo (greens and dish), Brazilian Portuguese carurú, Haitian Creole kalalou okra

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1