Justin Parke

🌽 Ital Suriname Corn Masala 🍛 Ital Is Vital

This corn masala is not a Surinamese recipe, it is my own invention, but since there are very few tasty vegan dishes here, I think this should be added to the culinary culture.

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](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/justinparke/B5IdIegc-IMG_1185.JPG)^{The state of agriculture in Suriname - low quality and little diversity}

👎 Disappointing Corn 🌽

I bought some corn from the hawker down the street. After removing the husks and cutting away all the rotten bits, I was left with 2 cups of corn kernels which costs me nearly $2.00 USD.

At our new apartment, we only have a single electric hotplate and a rice cooker, a far cry from our 4-burner gas stove at the old apartment. Regardless of the circumstances, we still need to create delicious and healthy family meals, so we press on..

🌽🍅 Suriname Corn Masala Ingredients 🌶️🧅

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](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/justinparke/DxSPSGjX-1.JPG)

Ingredients

⋆ bay leaves 2x ⋆ cumin seed - 2 tsp ⋆ oil - 3 tbsp ⋆ onion paste - 1½ cups (3 medium onions) ⋆ ginger/garlic/chili paste - (6 garlic cloves, knob of ginger, 1/2 Madame Jeanette pepper) ⋆ tomato puree - 1½ cups ⋆ coriander powder - 2 tsp ⋆ chili powder - 1 tsp ⋆ turmeric powder - ½ tsp ⋆ corn kernels (pressure-cooked 4 whistles) - 2 cups ⋆ sea salt - 1 tsp ⋆ garam masala - 1 tsp

👨‍🍳 Preparation Method 🔥

STEP 1 Heat the oil in a pot or pan and fry the cumin seeds and bay leaves until fragrant.
STEP 2 Quickly add the onion paste and fry on medium-high heat until the onion paste begins to brown. Change heat to low and saute the onions until reduced by more than 50%.
STEP 3 Add the ginger-garlic-chili paste and continue to saute on low to medium heat. Continue sauteing until the paste has browned and caramelized a bit.
STEP 4 Add the tomato puree, turmeric powder, chili powder, coriander powder, and salt.
STEP 5 Continue sauteing the tomato puree until it reduces and the oil begins separating.
STEP 6 Now add the cooked corn, garam masala, and 1 to 2 cups of water depending on how thick you like your masala. Bring back to a simmer and cook for at least 5 minutes, or longer until you reach the desired consistency of your masala.

We paired this dish with aloo roti and brown rice, and it was a perfect partnership. The heaviness of the potatoes complimented this rather light dish.

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](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/justinparke/Q9gYTYgG-finished.JPG)

We no longer have a gas stove or kitchen table and chairs like we did at the old place, but we are in a safer place, and eating on the ground again reminds us of the life we left behind in Cambodia, and the simple life we yearn to return to.

Life in the western hemisphere just isn't meant for us, and we keep fighting for a door to open for us somewhere in the world. As of now, we still can't go to the USA or Cambodia, so we are without a land to call our own.

We'll keep making delicious Ital food until we find a host country, and then we'll make more delicious food in our new country.