Cou-cou

Description

The national dish of Barbados when eaten with flying fish.

Ingredients

• 4 okras thinly sliced
• 4 cups boiling water
• 2 cups cornmeal
• 2 cups cold water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp butter

Procedures

1. Cook the okras in boiling water for 10 to 12 minutes.
2. While they are cooking,mix the corn meal and cold water to a smooth paste.
3. When the okras are soft, lower the heat, add salt and corn meal mixture, stirring constantly with a "cou-cou stick" (wooden spoon) until the mixture becomes fairly stiff.
4. When mixture breaks away cleanly from the side of the saucepan, the cou-cou is ready.
5. butter a bowl, turn the mixture out neatly onto it, shaking it so that it takes on the shape of the bowl.
6. Turn it out on to a serving dish, make an indentation in the top and place a knob of butter in it.