Ital Stew

Ital is a hearty Jamaican stew that is associated with the Rastafarian movement. The name ital is derived from the word vital, referring to the fact that ital food should be vegetarian and unprocessed. The stew consists of (mostly starchy) ingredients such as plantains, split peas, squash, taro root, potatoes, carrots, okra, onions, and collard greens in a rich coconut milk broth. The dish is traditionally lightly seasoned with thyme and pimento. It is recommended to garnish the stew with finely chopped coriander.