When it comes to South America, Suriname is not as widely spoken as its neighbor, Brazil. However, the country, fueled by slavery under the Dutch, has a rich culture that is a mix of African, Indonesian, and Indian influences.

When it comes to cuisine, Suriname is pretty underrated. We rarely hear people speaking highly of the country's cuisine as much as the other countries on the continent.

Suriname is a multicultural country, and according to Spruce Eats, it takes many of its influences from its African roots, and the influx of Indian and Indonesian people brought in by their Dutch colonizers. It mainly uses seafood and fruits, but tubers such as cassava and potatoes are also predominant.

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5 Underrated Cuisines In Suriname

Surinamese cuisine is considered unknown and is a mystery to many outsiders to the country. So, here are five dishes we believe are underrated and need more exposure.

Pom

We cannot talk about Surinamese cuisine without talking about Pom. This dish originated during Dutch rule, according to Taste Atlas. It is a casserole mainly made with chicken and various root vegetables. 

Typical ingredients include chicken meat, chicken sausages, tomatoes, onions, celery, orange and lemon juice, and taro root. The name comes from taro root, or pomtajer, one of the dish's main ingredients.

Moksi-alesi

Moksi-alesi is one of Suriname's most popular dishes that definitely takes its inspiration from Asia, with Indonesian and Indian influences. It's a Creole dish made of meat, rice, and vegetables. 

However, the Asian influence shows as the dish is flavored with coconut milk, used mainly in various Southeast Asian and Indian cuisines. Other ingredients include salted meat or fish, plantains, and black-eyed peas.

Bojo Cake

Cassava is an important ingredient in Suriname, and Bojo Cake makes excellent use of the root crop. According to the Surinamese food website Pokpoksom, it is a blend of cassava, coconuts, coconut milk, butter, sugar, cinnamon, and rum. Some also add raisins to the dish. It is similar to many other dishes in Asia, such as cassava cake.

Pepre Watra

If you want some spice, Pepre Watra may be for you. It is a fish dish with plenty of spices and stewed with local Madame Jeannette hot peppers. It boasts a light and spicy soup and is often served on top of rice and with cassava bread on the side.

Lapis

Lapis may be one of the biggest examples of the country's Indonesian influence. This colorful dessert is actually a traditional dish in Indonesia called kue lapis or kuih lapis.

However, it is also popular in other parts of Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. It's a rice flour dish with a pudding-like consistency and features various colors such as green, white, and red.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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