Pom (dish) facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Pomtajer |
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| Type | Casserole |
| Place of origin | Suriname |
| Main ingredients | Arrowleaf elephant ear root, citrus juice, chicken |
Pom is a tasty oven-baked dish from Suriname. It is made using a special root vegetable called pomtajer, which is also known as arrowleaf elephant ear.
The Story of Pom
Pom is a very popular dish in Suriname and among Surinamese people living in The Netherlands. It is often served at celebrations and special events.
Many people believe that pom started with the Jewish community in Suriname. It was first made by Portuguese-Jewish plantation owners. They used to make a potato dish called "pomme de terre". But potatoes did not grow well in Suriname. So, people started using a local root vegetable called pomtajer instead.
What's in Pom?
Pom uses three main ingredients:
- Chicken
- Citrus juice (like orange or lime juice)
- Pomtajer (the root vegetable)
The pomtajer plant is native to Suriname. Even though all parts of the plant can be eaten, only the underground part of the main stem is used for pom. This part is often called pomtajer or pongtaya.
How Pom is Made
The first time pom was written about was in a book called Encyclopedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië (published between 1914 and 1917). It said that the big tajer root is grated (shredded). Then, it is mixed with bitter orange juice. After that, it is baked with chicken or fish to make a pie. This dish is known as pom.
To make pom, first, chicken pieces are lightly cooked. Then, they are placed between two layers of raw, grated pomtajer. This pomtajer is mixed with citrus juice and a sauce. The sauce is made from oil or margarine, onions, tomatoes, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Finally, the dish is baked in an oven until it turns a lovely golden brown color.
Pom in the Netherlands
In Amsterdam, there are more than 120 places where you can buy Surinamese food. Other Dutch cities like Rotterdam and The Hague also have many restaurants and take-away places. Most of these places serve pom. They also often sell "broodje pom," which is pom served on a bread roll.
"Broodje pom" is becoming very popular in the Netherlands. You can even order it for home delivery sometimes! More and more recipes for pom are appearing in Dutch cookbooks, newspapers, and on websites. In 2007, there was even an exhibition about pom in Amsterdam.
See also
In Spanish: Pom para niños
