Creole
Pastei: the Surinamese Christmas pie
Surinamese pastei is a savoury pie filled with chicken, peas, carrot, gherkin and sometimes egg: a Dutch inheritance that in Suriname belongs to Christmas and New Year.
📷 Pastei zoals het in Paramaribo wordt geserveerd, bord of kar, geen studiofoto
The pastei is a Dutch inheritance that stayed in Suriname and turned both sweeter and sharper there, thanks to the gherkin and tomato purée in the filling.
It is baked in a large tin and cut into wedges, and appears mainly around the holidays. At Surinamese bakeries in the Netherlands it is sold year-round.
Frequently asked questions
When do people eat pastei in Suriname?
Mainly around the holidays: Christmas, New Year and birthdays. Bakeries in Paramaribo sell it midweek too, but December is the season.