Trinidad Holiday Season is known specifically for certain dishes such as sorrel, pastelle, pone, eggnog and more. Paime is also one of those Trini foods that is enjoyed around the end of year season.

It’s a sweet item and is prepared with cornflour, grated coconut, raisins etc and wrapped in fig leaf. It can also be wrapped in foil if the fig leaves are easily available.

I personally and honestly am not much of a fan of this but if you do want to experience some of the Trini Holiday treats, add this to your list of things to try.

YIELD: 15-20 Paime

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cup very fine cornflour (cornmeal)
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 cup very finely grated coconut
• 1/4 cup very finely grated pumpkin
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 1/2 cup water (approx)
• 2 tbsp butter/margarine
• 1/2 tsp JGM Products ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

OTHER:

• Banana/Fig leaves cut into 8×8 squares OR foil
• Cotton string

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients listed above and mix well until properly incorporated. Add a little water at a time to ensure too much isn’t added.
2. Place 2 tbsp of mixture on a greased fig leaf. Flatten a bit with your hands. Fold leaf to ensure mixture is properly secured. (See notes section below).
3. Tie with the string (See notes section below).
4. Boil for 20-30 minutes.

NOTES:

• You can wrap the Paime with foil alone if if you don’t have the banana leaves.
• If you don’t have string, you can also wrap the Paime with the foil after wrapping it in the banana leaves.
• You can add more of the pumpkin, coconut and sugar depending on your preferences.
• The banana leaves used in this were purchased frozen from the supermarket. If you can get freshly cut banana leaves, properly wipe the leave with water then quickly pass it over low/medium heat and allow it to slightly wilt and get dark but not burn. This step helps in making the leaves easier to work with. Thankfully with the frozen ones available this step isn’t necessary.
• The coconut used was frozen grated coconut as well which made things so much easier and faster.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Try this Trini desserts and let me know what you think!