Cou-cou (caribbean Polenta)

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 cups yellow cornmeal
• 8 ounces fresh okra (or 1 package frozen cut okra)
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups water

Recipe

• 1 clean and wash okra.
• 2 dice all but 6.
• 3 add 3 cups of water to a large saucepan.
• 4 add salt.
• 5 boil.
• 6 add diced and whole okra.
• 7 boil okra for 5-8 minutes.
• 8 remove pan from heat.
• 9 save whole okra aside for garnish.
• 10 measure 2 cups of liquid from the cooked okra to use for cooking your cou-cou.
• 11 mix cornmeal in a large bowl with enough cold water to moisten and blend it together.
• 12 stir the cornmeal slowly into the reserved liquid and okra in the pot.
• 13 use a wooden spoon to mix together.
• 14 return pot to stove over medium heat and continue to stir okra and cornmeal.
• 15 cook and stir about 15-20 minutes.
• 16 insert wooden spoon into center of the cou-cou.
• 17 if spoon stands up in the pot and is easily removed from cornmeal, your cou-cou is done.
• 18 cou-cou should be firm when it's done.
• 19 if the cou-cou is loose and creamy looking, you have used too much water.
• 20 if too much water is used, let cou-cou stand uncovered over low heat to"dry out.
• 21 "when cou-cou is done, turn the entire mixture into a buttered serving bowl and garnish with whole okra.
• 22 serve with sauce made of steamed codfish or frizz fish and cucumber salad.