World Flavors Cookbook

Suriname Recipes

Surinamese cuisine is a vibrant and unique melting pot of Indian, Javanese, Chinese, African, and European influences. It is famous for its hearty stews, spicy curries, and diverse street food. The combination of ingredients like taro, cassava, salted fish, and massala spices creates a flavor profile unlike any other in South America.

Recipes from Suriname

• Roti with Chicken Curry

  The definitive Surinamese comfort food: a massive flatbread served with a rich, spiced chicken and potato curry.

• Pastechi (Fried Meat Pies)

  Crispy, golden pastries filled with a savory spiced meat or chicken filling.

• Pom (Chicken and Root Vegetable Casserole)

  A festive, creamy casserole made with grated taro or cassava and tender chicken, reflecting Suriname’s Jewish-Creole heritage.

• Bara (Split Pea Fritters)

  Savory, spicy fritters made from ground split peas, often served inside a roti wrap.

• Nasi Goreng Suriname (Fried Rice)

  The Surinamese take on Indonesian fried rice, characterized by the use of local spices and often served with satay.

• Saoto Soup

  A light yet flavorful Javanese-style chicken noodle soup, served with a variety of crunchy toppings.

• Moksi Meti (Mixed Meats)

  A grand platter featuring a variety of roasted and stewed meats, reflecting the multicultural soul of Suriname.

• Heri Heri (Root Vegetable Medley)

  A traditional Afro-Surinamese dish of boiled cassava, plantain, and sweet potato served with salted fish.

• Brown Beans with Rice

  A hearty and savory stew of brown beans cooked with salted meat, served over fluffy white rice.

• Masusa Rijst (Yellow Spiced Rice)

  A fragrant yellow rice dish colored and flavored with masusa (a local berry or turmeric substitute) and spiced salted meat.

• Bami Goreng Suriname (Fried Noodles)

  Surinamese-style fried noodles, thinner and more savory than the Indonesian version, often served with ketjap chicken.

• Phulauri (Lentil Fritters)

  Small, airy deep-fried lentil balls, a popular snack often served with a spicy mango chutney.

• Bojo (Cassava and Coconut Cake)

  A moist, flourless cake made from grated cassava and coconut, flavored with cinnamon and vanilla.

• Orgeade (Almond Syrup Drink)

  A sweet and refreshing milky drink made from almond syrup and water or milk.

• Dawet (Coconut and Lemongrass Drink)

  A pink, sweet Javanese-inspired drink made with coconut milk and infused with lemongrass.

• Grit'Bana (Plantain Soup)

  A thick and nourishing soup made from grated green plantains and salted meat.

• Telo (Fried Cassava)

  Crispy fried cassava chunks, typically served with salted fish or peanut sauce.

• Satay Suriname

  Grilled meat skewers marinated in a sweet and spicy soy-based sauce, served with a rich peanut sauce.

• Petjil (Javanese Salad)

  A vibrant salad of steamed vegetables topped with a spicy and aromatic peanut sauce.

• Pom with Salted Fish

  A variation of the national casserole using salted fish instead of chicken for a more intense ocean flavor.

• Roti with Duck Curry

  A premium version of the roti meal, featuring tender, slow-cooked duck in a rich massala sauce.

• Surinamese Eggplant Curry (Baigan)

  A savory and spicy eggplant curry, slow-cooked until the vegetables are tender and flavorful.

• Surinamese Pumpkin Curry (Kohila)

  A sweet and savory pumpkin curry, often served as a side dish with roti.

• Fiadu (Sweet Spiced Bread)

  An elaborate, multi-layered sweet bread filled with raisins, currants, and succade, flavored with cinnamon and rum.

• Surinamese Ginger Beer

  A potent and refreshing fermented ginger drink, known for its strong "bite."

• Bakkeljauw (Salted Fish)

  Sautéed salted cod with onions, tomatoes, and spicy peppers, a versatile protein used in many dishes.

• Gado Gado Suriname

  The Surinamese version of the Indonesian vegetable salad, often served with more extensive toppings.

• Ketjap Chicken

  Tender chicken braised in a sweet and savory Indonesian soy sauce (ketjap manis) with ginger and garlic.

• Surinamese Pepperpot

  A dark, rich meat stew flavored with cassareep (bitter cassava extract) and warming spices.

• Roti with Shrimp Curry

  Succulent shrimp cooked in a quick but intense massala curry, served with fresh roti.

• Maizena Cookies

  Delicate, melt-in-your-mouth cookies made from cornstarch, decorated with colorful sprinkles.

• Fladder (Cow Tripe Soup)

  A unique and traditional soup made with cow tripe, flavored with piment and celery.

• Kwakoe (Fried Peanut Snack)

  Crunchy, spicy fried peanuts coated in a savory batter.

• Goedangan (Vegetables with Spiced Coconut)

  A Javanese-inspired vegetable dish where steamed greens are mixed with a spicy grated coconut dressing.

• Pitjil (Spicy Vegetable Salad)

  Similar to petjil, this is a spicy vegetable medley served with a thinner, more pungent peanut dressing.