Conkies (Barbadian Steamed Cornmeal and Pumpkin Parcels)
In short: Steamed Barbadian parcels of cornmeal, pumpkin, sweet potato and coconut with warm spices, wrapped in banana leaves for Independence Day. It takes about 1 h 50 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 1 h 10 min
- Total
- 1 h 50 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 205 kcal
Conkies are steamed parcels of cornmeal, pumpkin, sweet potato and coconut, sweetened with brown sugar and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. They are wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until set, and they are the food of Barbados's Independence Day on 30 November. The texture is soft and moist, like a sweet tamale. Make them a day ahead, because they firm up and taste better after resting.
Instructions
- Soften the banana leaves by passing them over a flame or dipping them in hot water until pliable. Wipe dry and trim to squares.
- In a large bowl, mix the pumpkin, sweet potato, cornmeal, coconut, brown sugar, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt.
- Stir in the melted butter, coconut milk and vanilla until the batter is thick, moist and evenly mixed.
- Place a leaf on the counter and spoon about 1/3 cup of batter into the center. Fold the sides over, then the ends, to make a flat packet, and tie with string.
- Set a steamer over boiling water, or a rack in a large pot with 3 cm (1 inch) of water. Arrange the parcels in layers, cover and steam for 60 to 70 minutes, topping up with boiling water as needed.
- Lift out the parcels and cool for 15 minutes. Serve warm in the leaf, or chill and eat the next day.
Tips
- No banana leaves? Wrap each portion in a square of parchment, then in foil, and steam as directed. The flavor is slightly less earthy.
- Grate the pumpkin and sweet potato on the fine side of the grater. A coarse grate leaves the conkies uneven and slow to set.
Questions and answers
How long do conkies keep?
They keep for 4 days in the fridge in their wrappers and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in a steamer or the microwave until warm.
Are conkies the same as tamales?
They are similar in style, since both are wrapped and steamed, but conkies are sweet and use cornmeal with pumpkin, sweet potato and coconut. Tamales use corn masa and are often savory.
Can I make conkies without coconut?
You can leave out the grated coconut and use 60 g (1/3 cup) extra cornmeal and a splash more coconut milk, but the flavor will be less traditional.
How long does it take to make Conkies (Barbadian Steamed Cornmeal and Pumpkin Parcels)?
About 1 h 50 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 1 h 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Conkies (Barbadian Steamed Cornmeal and Pumpkin Parcels)?
About 205 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 30 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 205 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 30 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 17 g |
| Sodium | 110 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
