Hindustani
Bara: the fried snack that is everywhere
Bara is a flat fried Surinamese-Hindustani snack of ground urad beans and flour, soft inside, usually eaten with sour sauce or sambal. On the street in Paramaribo one costs roughly SRD 10 to SRD 30.
Bara is the snack you meet at every cart and every market, and the cheapest way to understand how Surinamese people eat: standing up, with your hands, and with a lot of sour sauce.
The dough is ground urad (black lentils) with flour, turmeric and cumin, spread flat and deep-fried. Done well it is soft and airy inside and stops just short of greasy outside.
Two bara with a layer of sour sauce between them is the standard snack. In Dutch Surinamese shops you will find it under the same name.
Frequently asked questions
What is bara?
Bara is a flat, deep-fried Surinamese-Hindustani snack made from ground urad beans (black lentils) and flour, seasoned with turmeric and cumin. It is nearly always eaten with sour sauce or sambal.
Is bara vegetarian?
Yes. Bara is urad beans, flour and spices, so it is vegetarian and usually vegan too. Check only what sauce comes with it. On the street in Paramaribo a bara costs SRD 10 to SRD 30.