Last Updated on November 13, 2019 by Chef Mireille
Tutu Recipe – Aruba Style Polenta is an enriched version often made for holidays and special occasions. With bacon and beans, it is a protein packed version that can serve as a meal on its own!
Did you know that my family is from Aruba? Many people think of this as just a vacation island. People have actually said to me “Oh I didn’t know people actually live there” when I tell them my Mom is from Aruba. I then need to remind them who do they think is cleaning their hotel rooms and fixing their meals!
Aruban Cuisine & Culture
So yes, people live there and work there and raise families there. We have our own language, culture and cuisine. What I present here are not the foods you will get at the hotels that people represent as Aruban cuisine. I promise you no one at home is making Coconut Shrimp with flaked coconut!
I read an article a while back that was all about the diversity of Caribbean cuisine and the author said that Trinidad &Tobago had the most global influences than any other Caribbean island, without even a footnote to Aruba. I took great offence to that statement!
Aruba is one of the most diverse islands in the Caribbean with Spanish influence via our Venezuelan expat community, Dutch, Indonesian, Indian and African influences.
Like Suriname (the other Dutch colonized country where my grandfather happens to be from), its diverse community represents the extent of Dutch colonization in the 17th century. The cuisines of the diverse people of Africa, Asia, Europe and the South Pacific was brought to Dutch colonized countries and due simply to its proximity to Venezuela makes Aruba one of, if not the most diverse Caribbean island. Where else can you go and get a samosa, Nasi Goreng or sancocho and it’s all considered part of our national cuisine?
Our national dish of Keshi Yena represents this diversity with Dutch, Indonesian and African influence. I think it’s even more amazing that we have such diversity, considering our small size!
If talk of our cuisine hasn’t convinced you of our diversity, let’s take a look at our local language, Although the official language in school and business is Dutch, the language of the people is Papiamento. Papiamento started out as a dialect of English, Spanish, Dutch, French and Portuguese. It has since been declared a language since it has a written form. We have a papiamento language newspaper and some books are written in papiamento.
Since my mom is from Aruba, I have a great love of the island. I have visited many Caribbean islands and I guess you could say I am a bit biased, but it’s my favorite.
First of all, we don’t have the stifling heat present on many of the islands. It’s a tropical desert climate, so the tradewinds make sure there is always a breeze in the air, even if the temperatures are high.
It’s also the only Caribbean island located outside of the hurricane belt, so you can be pretty confident of a stress free vacation, with no bad weather concerns. I haven’t visited Aruba in many years as much of my family has since migrated to the Netherlands, which I now visit more often. However, here are a few photos from my last trip…when I was a lot younger and thinner.
Sights of Aruba
The natural bridge where we used to walk across at our own risk, but it has since collapsed…
After a tour through the caves where you see original carvings from the native Arawaks on the cave walls. That’s me (with the big hair) and a few of my many cousins.
See the cactus in the background that represents our desert climate. Cactus is the only thing that grows in our dry climate. Everything has to be imported, which makes cost of living very high.
This is a naturally formed pool surrounded by high rocks on the coastline.
I have often mentioned that most Caribbean islands have a version of cornmeal porridge, brought over from the African slaves. It’s our version of polenta. I previously did the Bajan Cou Cou recipe, but in Aruba we call the plain version funchi. However we also have a leveled up version, usually reserved for holidays and special occasions called Tutu or Aruba Style Polenta. It’s like funchi with all the Christmas trimmings.
How to make Tutu Recipe – Aruba Style Polenta
Serve hot.
It makes the perfect comfort food and I think can even stand on its own as a meal, although that is not traditional as it is considered more of a side dish.
I’m really not sure of the history of why we usually pair our funchi with fish. It’s just the traditional way of eating it, whether it is with fried fish, stewed fish or roasted fish. To complete my meal, I paired my Aruba Style Polenta with salad and pan seared salmon.
Tutu – Cornmeal Porridge – Aruba style for #Food of the World
Ingredients
Instructions
- Chop the bacon and saute it until crispy. Drain excess oil.
- Add coconut milk, peas, salt and 2 cups water and bring to a boil.
- In a bowl, combine cornmeal with about 1 cup of the boiling liquid and mix to form a paste.
- Turn heat to low and slowly add cornmeal paste, stirring constantly, to avoid lumps. Simmer, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes.
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Enjoyed reading your rant, Mir! 🙂 When looking up for info on Aurba to draft my post, I was surprised to know how tiny this nation is! Thanks for sharing some of your vacation pictures and the porridge is looks good and makes a nice side dish to serve with some salad and fish.
Wow, I can’t believe that article said that about Aruba. Reading about the island for the first time I was struck by how diverse it is… just a vacation place, unbelievable! Well, I love this recipe… serious comfort food. Pinned and will be enjoyed by my family. Thank you for sharing the pics of your family… looks like such a beautiful place.
This is exactly the kind of food my husband and I like to eat. I’ll be on the lookout for black eyed peas. 🙂
I’ve never been a fan of porridge style dishes, but the bacon and beans are calling to me here. It also looks absolutely fantastic!
What a beautiful post Mir. Loved reading about Aruba and the pics are so lovely — I’m sure there are so many memories connected to these. Tutu is such a simple and comforting dish.
Lovely post… Your new follower now…
Thanks. Glad you like it
I really like porridge and this would be a new twist to my usual. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I learned so much from your posts.
Woww… This sounds healthy and interesting… Love your blog and the way of step by step instructions..