Trini Paime

coconut milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: water + coconut extract

Almond milk reduces calories and is often less expensive.

scotch bonnet pepper

🥗Healthier: jalapeño

💰Cheaper: serrano pepper

Jalapeños provide heat with lower intensity.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier and can be used for cooking.

green bananas

🥗Healthier: plantains

💰Cheaper: yellow bananas

Plantains offer a similar texture with a different flavor.

Strip both sides of a banana leaf off of the stem.

Hold the banana leaf about an inch over an open flame until it turns shiny green, indicating it's steamed.

Tear the leaves into about seven inches wide sections.

Wipe the surface of the leaves with a damp paper towel before and after steaming.

In a large mixing bowl, add 1 1/4 cups fine cornmeal, 1 cup finely grated dried coconut, 3/4 cup finely grated pumpkin, 7 tablespoons room temperature margarine or unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons condensed milk, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 1 teaspoon coconut essence, and 1 teaspoon vanilla essence.

Mix all ingredients together until well combined.

Add 1/2 cup evaporated milk and mix until the texture is moist but firm enough to hold shape.

Optionally, mix in 2 tablespoons of raisins or dried cranberries.

On a piece of banana leaf, add a light bit of butter and 6 tablespoons of the mixture.

Roll the mixture tightly in the leaf and tie it with string or thread.

Place each package into a pot of boiling water, ensuring they are fully submerged.

Cover the pot with two pieces of banana leaves to keep in the steam.

Boil for roughly 25 minutes, rotating the packages halfway through the cooking process.

If cooking more than six packages, add an extra 5 to 10 minutes to the cooking time.

Carefully remove the packages from the boiling water and place them in a strainer over a bowl to drain excess water.

Allow the packages to sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes to let the cornmeal set.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: