Cou-cou with steamed fish (Barbadian cornmeal and okra)
Barbados's national dish: smooth cornmeal stirred with okra, served with fish steamed in a spiced tomato gravy.
- Time55 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.86 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Rub the fish with the lime juice and a little salt and leave for 10 minutes.
10 min - 2
Heat the oil and cook the onion for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, tomatoes, thyme and whole chilli and cook for 5 minutes until soft. Add the 150 ml water.
10 min - 3
Lay the fish in the sauce, cover and cook gently for 8 minutes until it flakes. Take out the whole chilli.
8 min - 4
Meanwhile, bring 900 ml water with the salt and okra to a simmer in another pan. Cook for 10 minutes until the okra is tender.
10 min - 5
Mix the cornmeal with 200 ml cold water, then whisk into the okra water. Over a low heat, stir hard with a wooden spoon for 8 to 10 minutes until very thick and pulling away from the pan. Beat in the butter.
9 min - 6
Shape spoonfuls of cou-cou into neat mounds with a wet spoon. Serve with the fish and gravy.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.