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Antiguan ducana
Ducana: sweet potato and coconut dumplings boiled in banana leaves
In Antigua, ducana turns up beside saltfish and chop up on Saturday plates and at Independence celebrations in November, little leaf-wrapped parcels of grated sweet potato and coconut with sugar, raisins and spice, boiled until set. It cuts through the salty fish with a soft, sticky sweetness. Many cooks add a little flour; this version keeps to sweet potato and coconut and is gluten free. The common mistake is wrapping the parcels loosely, so water seeps in and they turn mushy. Chef's tip: grate the sweet potato finely on the small holes and the ducana will hold together without any flour.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb sweet potatoeswhite-fleshed if possible, peeled and finely grated
- 7 oz fresh coconutfinely grated (or desiccated soaked in hot water)
- 4 oz soft brown sugar
- 2 ⅛ oz raisins
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmegfreshly grated
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup evaporated milkadd only if needed
- 8 banana leaves25 cm squares, softened over a flame (or foil)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ½ lb sweet potatoes, 7 oz fresh coconut, 4 oz soft brown sugar, 2 ⅛ oz raisins, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp vanilla extract and ¼ tsp salt in a large bowl. The mixture should hold together when squeezed; if it's dry, add ¼ cup evaporated milk a little at a time.
Step 2: Pass each of 8 banana leaves over a gas flame or hot plate for a few seconds until glossy and pliable.
5 minStep 3: Put about 3 heaped tablespoons of mixture in the centre of each leaf, shape it into a 2 cm thick oblong and fold the leaf tightly around it. Tie with kitchen string or wrap in foil to seal.
15 minStep 4: Bring a large pot of water to the boil, add the parcels, cover and simmer for 40–45 minutes, until a parcel opened is firm and the sweet potato tastes cooked, with no raw starchiness.
45 minStep 5: Lift out and rest for 10 minutes before unwrapping. Serve warm with saltfish and chop up, or on its own.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does antiguan ducana take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sweet potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of fresh coconut?
- Desiccated coconut soaked in hot water for 15 minutes, about three quarters of the weight.
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