Corn Cou Cou (Vegetarian + Gluten Free)

Learn how to make Corn Cou Cou (like Polenta) a delicious vegetarian dish made throughout the Caribbean, in this episode of #TastyTuesdays with Chris De La Rosa of CaribbeanPot.com With variations, this cornmeal recipe is made throughout the Caribbean and can probably be traced back to West Africa. With basic ingredients like cornmeal and okra, you'll be amazed how tasty this gluten free dish is. Served on it's own or with stewed meats or fish, it will have your family asking for more.
For this vegetarian corn cou cou recipe you'll need
1 cup corn meal (fine grain)
2 cloves garlic diced fine
1 tablespoon butter
2 sprigs thyme
1 small onion
1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust)
1 cup warm water
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
8-10 okra
1 pimento pepper (diced bell pepper could work -2-3 tablespoon)
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[@v.t.8752]

I'm Barbadian. Went to Ghana 🇬🇭 for the first time and on the second day tasted a meal that was familiar to my tastebuds. I was shocked and couldn't place it until I asked for the ingredients. Okra, cornmeal and fish on de side. I was eating what they call BANKU. It was cou cou for me.

[@vaazig]

On the completely opposite coast, in Kenya they make ugali to eat with beef stews. The end product with the flipped bowl looks very close to ugali. Having said that ugali is bland and only a vessel for the stew juices. 😋

[@sugarpoppop3958]

I tasted Coocoo when I was on Barbados and it was delicious 😋, it's a simple recipe with very little ingredients, me personally always like the authentic recipes. It's nice sometimes to upgrade or modified the recipes but NOT some that needs to be original and this is one of them. The African recipe is the original recipe and it was pass down to us Islanders as we added what ingredients we had locally. But PLEASE don't add carrots 😆

[@shirleycook6371]

​@@sugarpoppop3958😢😅😊

[@martacorona5703]

Thank you so much. I have been looking for this recipe for many years. My garndmother made it for us when I was a child in Nicaragua.. She did however, use grated corn on the cob and lots of green pepper. She called it fungi, which is why it took me so many years to find it since you use a different name. . I thought it was a treat when I was younger and longed to learn how to prepare this recipe, so Im very grateful.

[@hybridangel3403]

I'm British born 🇬🇩🇯🇲I love this. I have family in Trinidad too the Indian side.

[@73005]

My parents are Jamaican they called this turn cornmeal! Usually served with brown stew fish. The okra would be served on the side!

[@LocsMermaidia]

I love it this way with a dollop of butter when it's done. I've been doing it Haitian style as well with stewed pinto beans incorporated with coarser ground cornmeal and it's so delicious!

[@patricialabdon1544]

Love, love, love this channel. I'm from sweet T&T and been living here for the past 20 years. I'm getting ready to retire and I'm so ready for all my Trini cooking. I'm making some of your recipes, when I have the time. I can't wait for when I have more time. Keep that good food coming. Love ya! God bless.

[@bigmama5048]

Similarities in Ghanaian dishes and Caribbean dishes are amazing .this reminds me of the Ga (Accra) people’s kpekple and Eve people of the Volta regions maize meal seasoned like this but without the thyme and coconut milk

[@rtsoca5560]

It is true. It is similar to kenkey

[@tanyapetersen7426]

I grew up on what is called Fungee , as it is called in St. Thomas V. I. Their recipe is: one half cup of okra ,boiling ,salted water and cornmeal. Stir. Serve with gov and any.meat or poultry. Your recipe looks good. I'm gonna try it soon.

[@TonjaJohnsonliveyourlife]

Tanya Petersen gyul you mean fungi.

[@yahrajanae2062]

Yesss I'm from St.Croix Virgin Islands and we do same thing we V.I people love our fungee

[@yk_arubanorchid297]

In Aruba it's funchi 😂 different spelling, same pronunciation 🇦🇼

[@gbowers43]

Tanya Petersen my mother used to make that she’s from St. Thomas Virgin Islands but I forgot the recipe I think you just helped me with what I’ve been looking for for years thank you mrs. Petersen

[@Gigitalaloca]

St Croix we call it funguie i love it with okra. Soul food for us islanders omg with Sslt fish

[@Capricornunicorn1]

I grew up in Antigua and this is fungi for us. I love our fungi, but I never thought to add all the seasonings you did. Making this tonight.

[@allthings8953]

cou cou, calaloo and stew chicken best Sunday lunch😊nice and simple recipe tho👍

[@eccoluisaluisa]

This is a nice way of cooking the corn flour, I loved your recipe! In Romania we have it as a traditional food, it is called "mamaliga". It goes great with almost any type of food, meats or vegetables. As a surprise, it can go sweet, with freshly picked forrest berries, honey, nuts and fresh cream. :)

[@TheMixBeauty]

thanks so much for this vegetarian video. theres a great demand for delicious vegetarian food. theres many people that are vegetarian. please post more videos of vegetarian meals.

[@recipeswithsasa]

I will love to try this recipe next on my channel. Thanks man! Ghanaians make similar without coconut milk, just corn (banku) and okra stew .

[@SunnyGhandle]

🇯🇲🇬🇭

[@2angies19]

Chris, THANK YOU for the videos and recipes. My grandfather was Jamaican (never got to meet him), an each Caribbeanpot installment makes me feel like I'm closer to His root.

[@abigaildesouza8476]

FINALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!! A REAL COUCOU video!!

[@marvelenebougouneau8783]

Always love watching you cook great Caribbean foods

[@Gigitalaloca]

Finally someone that makes it with okra. Omg I'm making some tomorrow with Salt fish. In Puerto Rico we call it funche con guinganbo y Bacalao. My dad is from ST. CROIX USVI and there we call it Funguie with okro and salt fish. We use fish broth instead of the coconut milk, but geez i love anything coconut so i will definitely make this tomorrow with the coconut milk. Ty so much for sharing. I'm actually taking some okra to a friend's mother in few days she has a Jamaican restaurant and I love her food more than the food from my country lol

[@carollynch8319]

My ex-mother in-law was from the Antigua and she used to make something very similar called fungee.( not sure of the spelling). She used to serve it with fried fish and a red sauce with garlic and onions. She used to cook it for me every time I visited her before she left the country. Unfortunately she died before could learn her recipe. I hate okra but I loved this.

[@caribbeanpot]

Yes, Fungi (fungee) is what it's called in Antigua.. as mentioned there are slight differences throughout the islands

[@jennymckenzie2904]

Chris soak the cornmeal in some liquid so it will be easier 😉

[@ricardo8snehpets]

yeah i wonder why everbody is struggling to prevent the lumps. All you have to do is add cold water to the cormeal and stir it in before adding iot to the fire, like making cormeal porridge is JA.

[@suzannetempro9339]

Digitaria Global b

[@MsBrownsugarTX]

My friend is from Antigua. She taught me to make Pepper Pot and Fungi!!! So so so so delicious 🍴🍴

[@lysec9672]

Love your channel. Looked up this video for a quick reminder. You make it a little different and we call if Fungee and usually eat it with boil fish. I have had it with okra but most people back home don't. My family always tell young girls that they won't be a woman until they can turn cornmeal. Most of the women in my family would prefer not to cook it, but I don't know a man that would turn it down. So funny how we have all these different names and recipes.

[@warriorchild2521]

One of my favorite Chef Chris 👨‍🍳 ....loving this definitely going to make...,..Thank you Chris...,..My dad used to like his thyme in his “Turn Corn Meal” ,Sadly he passed away ..,❤️Love and Blessings 🙏..🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@ZenLioness]

My mom is down in Barbados right now having all the couscou she wants. Can't wait to show her this when she gets back to the Tdot. She's Grenadian but doesn't make it herself.

[@sugarpoppop3958]

THANK YOU for "D ORIGINAL" recipe. ❤ I know some people make it differently however you can't beat the authentic original recipe. And thanks for spelling it the right way as well.

[@j.c.d.hinkson7455]

Thanks for this recipe Chris. GOD bless you. From Barbados.

[@mystery9196]

Omg!! I didn't know this was cornmeal. I used to hate eating this. It looks delicious now.

[@Spyninjasarethebest]

My mom used to make it really good and always serve it with stew fish my kids don't care much for it, my husband and I do like it,add chicken stock to.

[@joyous120]

Like the seasonings and coconut milk instead of just water. Will be trying this soon. Thanks Chris🙏🏻

[@cherylmoore747]

In Barbados we soak the cornmeal with cold or room temperature water you don’t get any lumps😀

[@riachaouche8309]

Awesome Chris! Love the originality and all the messiness too- will definitely be making this coo coo with some stew fish! 🤗🤗💕💕👍🏼👍🏼

[@nicolejoseph751]

Great recipe. Tried for da first time this evening. It came out perrrrrfect...Thanks :)

[@acallwood8478]

I love "Fungi". Thank you Chris.........

[@tashonnawebster3070]

In Anguilla, this is called fungi. I ate it a lot as a child, but never attempted to make it myself. Thanks for sharing.

[@candicoates63]

In Antigua we call it fungi too.

[@ashacharles3048]

I followed your recipe but tweaked it a bit. Added a can of sweet corn and some poblano pepper in addition to the pimento. Adjusted salt and water to compensate. It was absolutely divine. Paired it with brown stew beef....OMG so good. Will make again.

[@drewcarr1]

in Barbados. after we plate it..we drown it in gravy. .got to have gravy. ..

[@TatianaWaggelmans]

Hi, can I have your recepy please?

[@drewcarr1]

Tatiana Waggelmans ???? I dont understand ur question

[@TatianaWaggelmans]

Thank you so much. I appreciate your time.

[@mayavmahabir9636]

Pamee

[@watkinstravel6504]

Yes indeed😋

[@eclynharper163]

Your way of making it very interesting will try it sometime. No problem saying ochro now n again dats how we Trini say it.

[@Pulchrior.Evenit]

I have tears in my eyes, belly, and heart. Let me go get some cornmeal yes.

[@andreabirju3208]

Chris.....my first time try and I used your recipe with my own twist as well...and omg it tasted amazing... Any time i wanna try something new I go to your videos /Thank you

[@marciaparsley2519]

you are right I didn't like it growing up in Jamaica W.I. my grandmother used to make we call it turn cornmeal. it's done with salted codfish "saltfish", coconut milk, pork.

[@gilmandy160]

Some times we cook it with red peas or gungo peas for Sunday dinner.

[@stevebayas7582]

That's awesome,In Haiti it's eaten with salted cod too.❤️

[@ardentdfender4116]

Chris a simple trick when your going to need to use water while cooking like for the cornmeal or other things is to have a hot kettle of water already standing by and use as needed but the water is already hot.

[@thejompi]

In Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao its called funchi. In Curaçao at Plasa Bieu they served it like this with okra and they make an okra soup called sopi jambo.

[@yk_arubanorchid297]

He ehhhhh! Hopi tempo sin dal un funchi cu soppi jambo ohm! 🇦🇼

[@-Epiphany]

Oh gawd this reminds me of my grandma sooo bad💕💕💕I woulda love to get her recipe we call it corn cou cou too in Vincy

[@Melissa85Bee]

Hello my fellow Vincy!!

[@jalastarchild]

The Wicked Chef Strikes Again ❤❤❤

[@jannel6677]

jala starchild Yuh don kno! D man hav meh belly boilin, as usual!

[@jalastarchild]

Janne L 👍👍👍

[@simoneblessed3128]

I dont no what I'll do without i learn so much dishes from u god bless coocoo & fry fish today

[@infamoust3694]

in Jamaica this is what we called turned cornmeal

[@YahkiYah_Yisrael]

In St. Kitts too. My mum taught me how to make turned cornmeal just before she passed away - God bless her - love you mum xxx I am going to try Chris's recipe as it looks quick and easy!!!

[@yahrajanae2062]

The way Jamaican do it it dont taste good baby father make it I was like noooo let me show you the virgin islands way its called fungi

[@NATURALMYSTICMK]

Fairy d....maybe he just cant cook. I make delicious turned cornmeal.

[@naomidrummonds]

fairy dust 😂 every single person in Jamaica 🇯🇲 cooks different, you just have to find the right ☝️, they have several.

[@patriciafraser9896]

I love your recipes

[@franco2b145]

We call it Fungi in the Virgin Islands..made with the same love! Blessings all.. 🇻🇮🇻🇮💯💯🤜🏾🤛🏼 Quick tip if I may.. wet down the cornmeal in a bowl/cup ( to a soupy consistency) before adding to the okra. It help eliminate the “lumps”. Mind you, this is just for the newbies, lol! ENJOY!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@valerieannetta3203]

my father love this dish

[@mautrin50]

Ohh I am making this today, My dad was from Barbados and I used to make it different maybe how your grandmother used to make it. This is new , I love your version. Thanks !!

[@doreenphillip474]

fungi , I wet my corn meal before turning it, it's much easier keeps the lumps away and as soon as it's well turned in I put a little orchra water cover the pot over low heat and let it boil a while before turning it several more times. I've add spinach to mines also great first pot food babies

[@rocktricksp1159]

Oh my dad was saying his grandma’s hot tip for cooking okra was to boil it and then toss out the water, and then cook it and use the water to prevent sticking too! They’re Cuban tho

[@rhondaj3117]

Hey Chris first time seeing you but thank you for doing this video because my cou cou never comes out right. One time it came out green. I gave up. I want to try again so im gonna follow your steps.

[@MSideKiki]

In Jamaica we call it 'tun cornmeal' (turned cornmeal) we typically cook it in coconut milk

[@MSideKiki]

It's lovely with fish

[@cassiee3494]

Chris you real make me laugh you say thus is a workout yes. Like this

[@vampireking7916]

I've been looking all over finally found the recipe I could agree with

[@altonza]

This looks AMAZING!!!

[@daniebajan6306]

Lol cou cou is hard work! this method is interested! I'll try it this way!

[@anydae]

I don't like cou cou but your way looks great.... You've encouraged me to make this

[@yvonnepaulrobert4461]

Thanks Chris I am enjoying your cooking

[@jaysinfo]

i usually add some fried bacon bits to cou-cou. its gets even better !

[@onnasun8122]

I was looking for a cou cou recipe, Oh my God Thank you for this lovely video!

[@harlenewilson7263]

Chris that looks so delicious that I am going to try it over the weekend :)

[@crystalarnoldfortune]

Just tried your recipe...came out perfect n delicious...thanks for sharing

[@katianavertus6422]

hi I'm haitian I love how u cook u put so much love into your food

[@ShaunaRose1111]

I literally ate this for breakfast today with okra ! In Haiti it's called Mayi Moulin...

[@caribbeanpot]

thx for sharing the name.. learned something new.

[@ShaunaRose1111]

caribbeanpot you're welcome 😄😄😄

[@stlbakes6641]

Tried this recipe today and have to say 👌👌👌👌👌

[@carrieshauw8124]

In Antigua we call it Fungi. We serve it with salt fish/fish, chopup (boiled eggplant/spinach), casi and boiled paw paw. I hope that I didn't forget anything

[@alisoniagriffith4425]

Whoaaa!!! Ahhh Chris if feel the vibes man. Good foodddddd!!!!

[@morr936]

Yes marn!!!! Thank you for the nice spin on Cou Cou! xxx

[@kharunaramlagan4469]

U are one of my favourites....

[@Spanishpac]

ah cooking this for lunch tomorrow!

[@annmaryjoseph879]

My method of doing it is to first soak the cornmeal in water just quarter of an inch above it in a container.That lessens the probability of lumps while stirring it into hot liquid.

[@titalinda9093]

I lived in Washington, DC, my boss was an extremely intelligent lady who was from Tobago.

[@allinaantoine3037]

Thanks very much today is Sunday am making one

[@DC-ym8km]

😋 yummy...thnx. for this Chris.. you're de boss chef ❤️😊

[@bonitaweekes4366]

Tita Linda you can't tell Caribbean people about Polenta, it's Coo Coo or Cou Cou, it came with the slaves from Africa. Trinis and Jamaicans use coconut milk but Bajans use water, still tasty, our national dish is cou cou and steamed flying fish.

[@karimatalarapon1766]

I grew up with 1 Trini parent and 1 Nigerian in Nigeria is called tuwo masara cooked plain the okra was in a separate saice but we had both versions but I like your method will try it

[@twinkitten1]

In barbados we don't use coconut milk and we boil the Okras with water and make okra water......I'm liking the coconut milk added in though 😛

[@bernice379]

Another lovely recipe.

[@Missflo06]

That is funny my father is doing it but a sweet version of the Coucou with corn, mlik and sugar. I am from Guadeloupe and Martinique

[@melscrochetcornermore1383]

Yummy!!!!!😋

[@blakus88]

I hear that Barbadians love serving this stuff with flying fish. Wouldn't mind giving it a shot sometime. Specifically your take actually, because most other recipes look a little too bland for liking.

[@caribbeanpot]

In Barbados you MUST have it with flying fish - very delicious

[@Akira092009]

with some Bajan pepper sauce to spice it up

[@caroldavid1843]

Siobhan Campbell d

[@PrudentP]

I enjoy all your recipes. Will def. try this

[@missme4038]

I love coconut milk I try to cook with it always

[@lillianbalkum5975]

Thanks for this one,really appreciate the veggie options,blessings:)

[@rocktricksp1159]

This is a great recipe for the feast of chango in Cuba! It’s every year on December 4th, and one of his favourite foods is a cornmeal tamale. My family’s decided this is def the hottest take on cou cou 👍 thanks again!

[@ldyluv6988]

We call it fungi. Sooo delicious with steam fish 🙌🏾🤤😩

[@aishagabriel2231]

I love ur cooking

[@the-chipette]

Aww, this is like iyan in Nigeria. I forget what the corn based kind is called. :)

[@nashwareid2817]

hahhahahaha Good job Chris ! Had me cracking up.Where is the finish product? It would be nice if it was displayed.

[@lisasmith8007]

Yesss come through #Bajan love😍

[@melissaa4168]

no worries love your channel Chris and you make me smile everytime you say vibsing it up 👊

[@caribbeanpot]

thx fuh the luv and support

[@hailie_Selassie]

In Haiti it is called maymoulen and I hate it. We cook it plain and we eat it with a bean sauce on top . We cook it also with smoked herring.

[@milenasa5055]

In Brazil we also called polenta!

[@aaudain1]

Well done job, I make Trini style, must try it your way, is a dish I love, good with fish

[@PaulinaBlackman]

👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾 BEAUTIFUL!!

[@HannahsSimpleLife]

Can you make turn cornmeal with milk or just plain water?

[@shannelwilliams3124]

You can use either

[@KK20003]

Delicious!!

[@eveaugustine8197]

hmmmm, delicious

[@dennispierre6433]

My comment is i allways wanted to learn how to make cou cou well i know now thanks...

[@amnahtouski2548]

Have never tried it before but looks healthy

[@caribbeanpot]

you must give it a try.. its delicious

[@Afrinaturality]

Amnah Touski Reminds me of my childhood, when my Caribbean friend's mum used to make this for me. I'm going to try this! 🙌

[@titalinda9093]

I wish I had your stove!! Fantastic!!

[@amnahtouski2548]

♡I will give it a try soon 👍