Cou Cou (Barbados)

Barbadian Cou Cou served with Fish and Okra

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Cou Cou is a Barbadian dish most often served with the Barbadian national food, flying fish. It slightly resembles grits or polenta, and consists of cornmeal, water, butter, spices, and okra. It is a great side dish to accompany fish and vegetables!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Bajan

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 116kcal

Author Alexandria Drzazgowski

Equipment

Wooden Spoon
Pot(s)

Ingredients

1 cup water plus more for boiling
1 cup coarse ground cornmeal
4 okra pods
½ tsp thyme
½ tsp marjoram
3 tbsp butter plus more for serving
1 tsp salt plus more to taste

Instructions

Cut the ends off of the okra pods.
Boil about 6 cups of water. Once boiling, add the okra pods and continue to boil for ten minutes. After ten minutes, remove the okra pods and reserve two cups of the boiling water. Keep the 2 cups of boiling water on the stove at a low boil.
Mix cornmeal and 1 cup cold water together. Add mixture to the two cups of boiling water. Add seasoning and mix to combine.
After four minutes, add 3 tbsp of butter. Mix until the mixture becomes stiff (about twenty or so minutes). You will know when the Cou Cou is complete when you remove it from the sides of the pan and it sticks in place. You can also do the spoon test. If you stick a wooden spoon into the middle of the Cou Cou and it does not fall over (and is fairly easy to remove), the Cou Cou is ready.
To serve, take a single serving dish and rub with melted butter. Form the Cou Cou into the dish, then turn the dish over onto the dinner plate, leaving a mound of Cou Cou! Enjoy!

Notes

Recipe copyright The Foreign Fork. For personal or professional use only.