National Dish

Fish and Fungi is a favourite among the locals, it is the national dish of the British Virgin Islands and has been since the early 1980′s, this dish has one the Highest National award: BVI Badge of Honour.

Anyone who visits the British Virgin Islands must try the Fish and Fungi, it is one of the most tasty dishes I have ever tasted. It is made from a combination of fine milled cornmeal dish similar to a polenta-like side dish flecked with okra.

British Virgin Islands is now officially preparing and serving the okra fungi piping hot with boiled fish on the side West Idian Style. It makes about 8 servings. Fungi is made from “scratch, with added okra, onions, sweet peppers, etc.

Also this dish is sometimes served with a various of seafood dishes. In the British Virgin Islands, most of the West Indian cooks usually serve fungi with fish and gravy.

Recipe – Broiled Fish West Indian Style:

Ingredients:

4 1/2 pounds fish, scaled and gutted
1 teaspoon Accent
2 cups water
2 teaspoons Margarine
2 medium onions, cut up
1 Tomato, chopped
1 tablespoon Vinegar
3 tablespoons Lemon or Limejuice

Method:

Place fish will all ingredients into a saucepan and cook gently until fish is cooked, about 20 to 30 minutes. Serve with sliced lime.

Recipe – Okra Fungi

Ingredients:

10 ounces package frozen cut okra
1 1/2 cups fine yellow cornmeal
2 1/2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pepper, to taste

Method:

Bring 2 ½ cups of water to boil along with frozen okra in boiling water. To make fungi that are free of lumps, mix about ¼ cup of the cornmeal with ¾ cup water in a separate small bowl.

Then, add this mixture back into the larger pot of boiling water. Let cornmeal cook for about a minute, then add the rest of the cornmeal into the pan in a slow steady stream, while stirring constantly.

Add hot cooked okra to cooked cornmeal. Stir well. Then, stir in the butter, salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer for about 5 more minutes.