Authentic Barbados Flying Fish and Cou Cou Recipe

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The delicacies of Barbados is a energetic melting pot of standout flavors, mixing influences from England, India, and Africa into one tasty island combine.

Bajan cooks know tips on how to work with the island’s recent native produce, creating a number of the world’s tastiest dishes. Typical Bajan dishes that you just may encounter on the island embody macaroni pie, fish muffins, rice and peas, conkies, coconut turnovers—and in fact, the nationwide treasure: flying fish and coucou.

Barbados has loads of scrumptious bites, however right now we’re diving deep into only one. If there’s a single Bajan dish you’ve bought to strive, it’s flying fish and coucou. Belief us—this one’s definitely worth the highlight.

Image: Beachfront at Sandals Royal Barbados. Savor native and worldwide flavors throughout your a lot deserved all-inclusive escape!

Cou Cou & Flying Fish – Barbados’ Nationwide Dish

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The nationwide dish of Barbados is a superb meal and one which the native persons are fairly happy with. The star of the present is a fillet of steamed or fried flying fish, accompanied by a facet of coucou, which is paying homage to polenta or grits, for individuals who are usually not conversant in the delicacies. Lime juice, spices and recent veggies take the flavors up a notch, creating a beautiful, genuine Bajan meal.

When you occur to be visiting Barbados quickly, you higher convey you urge for food. We’ll let you know extra in regards to the dish in a number of moments, however first, here is some background.

What’s Flying Fish?

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Flying fish is a kind of fish native to the island of Barbados. These silvery swimmers have been as soon as so plentiful that Barbados earned the nickname “the land of flying fish.” So, it’s no shock that this iconic catch is the star of the Bajan nationwide dish.

Flying fish means extra than simply taste—it’s an emblem of delight for the folks of Barbados. You’ll spot it on the nationwide foreign money and even see it hovering within the brand of the Barbados Tourism Authority.

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Craving a style? Flying fish nonetheless shines on menus all throughout the island. It’s scrumptious when merely steamed with a splash of lime, and simply as tasty when fried to a golden crisp. For the actual deal, head to a energetic Bajan barbeque and strive the standard flying fish recipe served up by locals.

What’s Cou-cou?

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Coucou is a dish you’ll discover so much in Barbados, however it’s not quite common in the remainder of the world. When you’ve by no means tried it earlier than, think about one thing much like polenta or grits in texture.

It’s constructed from a mixture of cornmeal and okra. The 2 elements muddle collectively to type a form of savory porridge. Coucou in Barbados is a warming and comforting dish that pairs effectively with a number of the spicier Bajan culinary alternatives – like flying fish! It’s additionally fantastic with spicy sauces, that are frequent with Bajan delicacies.

Usually, coucou is served within the conventional manner, which is by forming it into an oval form, utilizing an enamel bowl. Or, if you wish to be actually genuine, you’d use a calabash shell, from the fruit of a tree discovered rising within the wild within the tropics and America. Coucou can be constructed from different elements, like breadfruit, yams or inexperienced bananas.

Our Go-To Flying Fish and Coucou Recipe

Historically, Bajan folks cook dinner up this recipe on Fridays or Saturdays, however in fact in case you be taught to make your individual you may serve it up everytime you want! Impress your folks and household with this scrumptious style of the tropics.

Easy methods to make flying fish and coucou

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Elements:

For the fish:
4 fillets of flying fish (if this isn’t obtainable the place you reside, you may substitute sea bass)
Juice of a lime
Pinch of garlic powder
Salt
Black pepper

For the seasoning:
1 onion
3 spring onions
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp recent ginger
1 scotch bonnet chilli
1 tbsp of thyme leaves
1/2 tsp combined spice
1 lime
100ml vinegar
salt
freshly floor black pepper

For the sauce:
1/2 onion
1 tsp garlic
1 pepper
1 tomato
5g of thyme
10g of curry powder
5g of garlic powder
6 tbsp of olive oil
100g of butter
salt
pepper

For the coucou:
140g cornmeal
620ml water
4 okra
1 onion
Contemporary thyme

Methodology:

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Step 1: First make the seasoning. Mix all of the elements for the seasoning, aside from the vinegar, in a meals processor and pulse till effectively mixed. Put the paste right into a sealable jar and add the vinegar. Shake effectively and season in accordance with your preferences. You’ll wish to go away this for round two hours earlier than you employ it, so set this apart to infuse.

Step 2: Season the fish with lime, salt and pepper.

Step 3: Put the sauce elements right into a sauce pan and convey to a simmer, with somewhat oil. Add one tablespoon of the seasoning you ready earlier.

Step 4: In a separate pan, mix the elements for the coucou, aside from the cornmeal, and convey to the boil. You’ll need this on a excessive warmth. As soon as cooked, pressure the combination and discard the onion and thyme. Hold the items of okra to make use of later.

Step 5: Put the coucou pan again on the warmth and add cornmeal, mixing effectively till you type a thick combination. Add within the okra.

Step 6: The dish is able to serve! Place the coucou on a plate and high every dish with a fillet of fish and a wholesome serving to of sauce and take pleasure in your style of Barbados!

The Greatest Bajan Flying Fish and Coucou Recipe Round!

And with that, we hope you loved diving into the flavors of Barbados with the island’s beloved nationwide dish—flying fish and coucou. Can’t discover flying fish close to you? No worries. You’ll be able to nonetheless convey a style of the Caribbean residence by swapping in an analogous fish. Sea bass is a good stand-in and works superbly on this recipe.

When you’re enthusiastic about extra Caribbean impressed cooking, try our information to easy Caribbean recipes you may make at residence.

Image: Expertise one of the best of the Caribbean—from golden seashores to daring island flavors—at Sandals Resorts in Barbados. You and that particular somebody can take pleasure in entry to as much as 21 distinctive eating places, all included in your keep!