Main ingredients Sweet potato | Place of origin West Indies | |
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Type Dessert, Savoury main starch Created by African people who were brought to Antigua and Barbuda as well as other Caribbean Islands in the slave trade Variations Some islanders use pumpkin Similar Grater cake, Conkies, Gizzada, Ducana, Coconut drop | ||
Duckunoo or duckanoo, also referred to as tie-a-leaf and blue drawers (draws), called Dokonon (in French Guiana), is a dessert in Jamaica, Antigua, Barbados, French Guiana and some other Lesser Antilles. It is a variation on the dish ducana which originated in Africa. The Caribbean cuisine dessert is made from batata, cornmeal (optional), coconut, spices and brown sugar, all tied up in a banana leaf. It is cooked in boiling water.
Contents
Duckanoo is a relatively new name for some that was added to the name "tie a leaf". However, the names vary depending on location in various islands. "Ducana" is the Antiguan/Barbudan as well as some of the smaller Caribbean islands name of this dumpling or dessert.
History
Similar to the Meso American 'dulce de tamale' this was a highly popular indigenous dessert in the Americas. Adapted by the afro caribbeans people. African people who were brought to Antigua and Barbuda as well as other Caribbean Islands in the slave trade such Eddo, ochra, dasheen, eggplant, bonavista bean. In Ghana, ducana is dokono and in the Twi language, Odokono.
Variations
Dukuna is a small pudding made of varying mixtures of grated sweet potatoes, coconut, cornmeal and plantain-flour. (From Akan: doko na sweeten mouth Twi: boiled maize Ga: Adangme dokona).
