Cou-cou and flying fish
Barbados' okra polenta with flying fish
Think of it as: Like creamy polenta with a fish stew on top
Incoming flying fish!
What does it taste like?
Silky, mild cornmeal soaking up a savory tomato and fish sauce.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureSmooth and slightly slick
What is it?
Cou-cou is a smooth mash of cornmeal and okra, served with flying fish steamed in a tomato sauce. It's Barbados' national dish, and many families eat it on Fridays.Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
A Friday or Sunday lunch, with plenty of sauce, eaten with a fork.
Watch it
EnglishTap to play (YouTube)Where is it from?
🇧🇧Barbados
CapitalBridgetown
Populationabout 280,000estimate (unverified)
IndustriesTourism, Rum, Financial services
Famous peopleRihannaGlobal pop star, named a National Hero
HelloHello (English)
CurrencyBarbadian dollar
Fun factIt's home to one of the world's oldest rum distilleries, Mount Gay.
The flag🇧🇧 The broken trident in the center symbolizes the break from Britain.
From Tokyoabout 14,220 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Bridgetown
Getting thereAbout 20+ hours (with connections)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeDecember to April, the dry season. Also tryPudding and souseFish cakesMacaroni pie
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeDecember to April, the dry season. Also tryPudding and souseFish cakesMacaroni pie
🇧🇧 Sounds & life in Barbados
HelloHello（Hello (English)）
Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
Right now…
AnthemIn Plenty and In Time of Need
MusicSoca Fast, joyful carnival party music
Listen on YouTube SportCricket
Garfield Sobers (cricket, one of the greatest all-rounders ever) World HeritageHistoric Bridgetown and its Garrison and more National animalBrown pelican (national bird) National flowerPride of Barbados FestivalCrop Over (July–August, sugar harvest festival)
MusicSoca Fast, joyful carnival party music
Listen on YouTube SportCricket
Garfield Sobers (cricket, one of the greatest all-rounders ever) World HeritageHistoric Bridgetown and its Garrison and more National animalBrown pelican (national bird) National flowerPride of Barbados FestivalCrop Over (July–August, sugar harvest festival)
Ingredients
- Cornmeal 1 cup
- Okra 8
- Water 3 cups
- Butter 2 tbsp
- Flying fish 4
- Tomatoes 2
- Onion 1
- Lime 1
Can't find it? Flying fish → mackerel or any small white fish.
How to make it (one way)
- Season the fish with lime, salt and herbs
- Slice the okra and boil it in salted water
- Rain the cornmeal into the okra water and stir hard with a wooden spoon
- Beat in butter until smooth and shape in a bowl
- Steam the fish in tomato and onion sauce and spoon over the cou-cou
Get the ingredients (ad)
cornmealAmazon