Festival is a type of Jamaican street food that is usually eaten with Jerk meat or fish. It is slightly sweet and crunchy. The original recipe for this post was taken from Virginia Burke’s cookbook “Eat Caribbean”, but has been improved with input from Petal, a wonderful Jamaican woman who helps me in the kitchen during my cooking classes.
Ingredients…
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Dash of nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup water to make a soft dough
- Oil for frying
Instructions…
Mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Sweeten the water with sugar and vanilla, and add just enough water to the flour to make a moist dough. Set the dough aside and let it rest for about 20 minutes.
Flour your hands well and knead the dough on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12 portions. Roll each portion into a small cigar or sausage shape that’s tapered at the ends.
Pour enough oil into a skillet to reach about 1 inch deep. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Carefully slide a few of the dumplings into the oil and fry, turning as necessary, until golden brown on each side, adjusting the heat if necessary. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining fritters. Eat ’em hot.
Let cool and enjoy!
Tell Us What You Think!
Please let us know how you like my Pumpkin Fritter recipe via our Contact Us page, our Facebook Page, or Instagram. Oh, try a few other recipes such as my Jerk Shrimp, Coconut Rum Grilled Shrimp, or my Stewed Chicken. Make sure you add a simple salad for a little healthy boost in your diet!
If this recipe really makes your mouth water, why don’t you come for cooking classes in Antigua. Come for one class or a series of classes and you can even stay in our BnB.
