Trinidadian Kurma, A Taste of Childhood Nostalgia
During Divali, everyone is busy shopping for new clothes, decorating their homes, buying fire crackers and making sweets. Kurma—what the Guyanese know as “crunchy mithai”—is eaten year-round but it’s also in high-demand whenever special events roll around. No puja, wedding or Eid and Festival of Lights celebration is complete without this quintessential Indian sweet.
Kurma is synonymous with childhood memories and primary school tuck shop days. Local vendors scattered all over Trinidad sell little bags of the sweet, fried sticks for little to nothing. The classic dessert—called kurma NOT “kumra” or “kumar”—is made with a sweet, spiced dough that’s sliced like matchsticks, fried and coated in a gingery sugar glaze named “paag”. This kurma recipe is relatively easy to make, but you might run into difficulty when making sure the syrup is the right consistency. If it’s not, the recipe will not yield the right result. Wait till the syrup drips off a spoon in long thread—only then, you’ll have the perfect dessert.
CASSAVA KURMA
COOK TIME: 30 mins
INGREDIENTS
- Nariel coconut oil, for frying
- 3 cups Jinca Foods cassava flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon Chief ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Chief ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon Chief salt
- ¼ cup shortening
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup water
- For the glaze
- 1 teaspoon ginger fresh, grated
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup icing sugar, optional
DIRECTIONS
- Fill a large pan or fryer with Nariel coconut oil and heat over medium-high temperature. Use a food thermometer to ensure the oil stays at 350°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together Jinca Foods cassava flour and all-purpose flour. Add Chief ground cinnamon, Chief ginger powder and Chief salt.
- Cut in butter and shortening, or rub between fingers with flour mixture until the flour mix begins to look mealy or crumby.
- Gradually, add water while mixing. Keep going until the dough forms into a firm ball.
- Cut the dough into two even balls. On a floured surface, roll out each ball until it’s ¼-inch thick.
- Cut into strips and place in hot oil. Continuously flip to ensure all are frying evenly. Fry until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oil, drain, and let cool on a paper-lined plate.
- Repeat until all dough strips are fried.
- To make the glaze, add grated ginger, water, and sugar to a small saucepan over high heat.
- Stir occasionally until the syrup becomes thick. You’ll know it’s ready when the syrup drips off a spoon in long threads.
- Place the cooled kurma in a large bowl and pour the syrup over it. Stir to ensure all are coated.
- Cool for a few more minutes. Dust with icing sugar and serve.
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