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Cou-Cou (Caribbean Polenta)

2 cups yellow cornmeal
1/2 pound fresh okra or 1 package frozen cut okra
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter or margarine
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups water

1. Clean and wash okra. Dice all but 6. Add 3 cups of water to a large saucepan. Add salt. Boil. Add diced and whole okra. Boil okra for 5-8 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Save whole okra aside for garnish. Measure 2 cups of liquid from the cooked okra to use for cooking your cou-cou.\
2. Mix cornmeal in a large bowl with enough cold water to moisten and blend it together. Stir the cornmeal slowly into the reserved liquid and okra in the pot. Use a wooden spoon to mix together. Return pot to stove over medium heat and continue to stir okra and cornmeal. Cook and stir about 15-20 minutes.
3. Insert wooden spoon into center of the cou-cou. If spoon stands up in the pot and is easily removed from cornmeal, your cou-cou is done. Cou-cou should be firm when it's done. If the cou-cou is loose and creamy looking, you have used too much water. If too much water is used, let cou-cou stand uncovered over low heat to "dry out." When Cou-Cou is done, turn the entire mixture into a buttered serving bowl and garnish with whole okra. Serve with sauce made of steamed codfish or Frizz Fish and cucumber salad.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Note: Refrigerate leftover cou-cou. For a pleasant weekend breakfast, slice and fry leftover Cou-Cou and serve it with your favorite syrup.

Recipe property of Nyla Morrison, author of "Minna Cooks Caribbean". Used with permission.