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local Saturday 1 June 2024

Dining in? Try making a local favorite

How to make “funchi hasa”

(Oranjestad)—A night in can be just as fun stick to the bottom. Let this cool complete-
as a night out on the town, especially if you ly while it firms up for the last time. Once it’s
got the right snacks to munch on. One of the cooled you can enjoy it as is, topped with
most famous Aruban snacks or appetizers is some butter or shredded cheese. Or, you
“funchi hasa” (fried polenta sticks). A super can take it to another level of deliciousness.
easy meal that adults and children will both
enjoy. Here’s how to make it! When your funchi is firm enough, cut it into
strips (size is up to you). Heat up some oil in a
Before we start, get to know the basics pan and fry those babies up! After frying, you
So what is funchi hasa? Funchi, or Aruban po- can top it with some cheese or enjoy it with
lenta, is a popular side dish for local dishes, your favorite dipping sauce.
like soups, stews and fried fish. Made from
a corn flour, water and butter mixture, this Note: We recommend the FUNCHI FRESKU
appetizer is traditionally eaten alongside a Ingredients (measured by heart) polenta flour brand that is sold in all super-
warm meal. However, locals also like to fry 1. Polenta flour* markets on the island. You can also use yel-
sticks of funchi for a quick and filling snack. 2. Water low corn flour from the brand PAN.
3. Butter
4. Salt to taste Photo credit of fried funchi sticks: Jacqueline

Felida on Pinterest. q
Directions
Bring water to a boil in a medium-sized sauce
pan. Add in some salt and butter to taste in
the boiling water and let this dissolve and
melt. Then, gradually add the flour while stir-
ring with a wooden spoon. The mixture will
start to begin to harden pretty fast, so be
careful not to add too much. At this phase of
cooking, you want a goopy thick mixture, but
thin enough so you can continue to stir to get
all the lumps out.

After reaching a semi-firm, yet flexible texture,
grab a baking pan or any large, deep plate,
and pour the mixture in. Be sure that this plate
is wet or greased so that the mixture does not

Aruba’s Bocas: home to the rarest fossil reefs on the planet!

(Oranjestad)—If you’ve from the Marum research respond to fluctuating sea
been to the northern coast faculty at the University of levels or extreme weather,
of Aruba already, you’ve Bremen, Prof. dr. Alessio like hurricanes and tsuna-
probably noticed how the Rovere from the Ca’ Fosc- mis.
ground differs entirely from ari University of Venice and
the sandy beaches on the Prof. dr. Gianfranco Scic- Through underwater and
southern part of the island. chitano, from the University land surveillance, and 3D
These hard surfaces, with of Bari Aldo Moro, present- models of the reefs, they
sharp bumps and holes ed their research on these were able to narrow down
are actually fossilized coral fossilized coral reefs at the when these formations
reefs, of which its growth University of Aruba. Their started to take place. They
and changes can be focus for their research in- were also able to track the
traced back to the last gla- cluded studying the health fluctuation of sea levels
cial period. and formation patterns of during the past hundred or
these coral reefs, and to even thousands of years,
On May 30 2023, geosci- investigate how these reefs and the effects that this
entists, Dr. Patrick Boyden have responded and can fluctuation has had on the
coral reefs of the windward
side of Aruba.
reefs on the windward side these coral reefs, we are
These findings can certainly are truly an incredible and able to take concrete ac-
put things into perspective. rare remnant of geologi- tion in protecting and pre-
The ground on which we cal history, as they provide serving our coral reefs. So, if
have walked many times a clear view of how these you are ever visiting one of
in the northern part of the reefs have formed. the bocas or driving along
island hold such rich history, the northern part of the is-
history that dates back to This research is also im- land, please be conscious
a time that most of us can- portant for the future of to help protect our natu-
not even imagine. As the coral reefs on the island. ral historical remnant. Oh,
scientists themselves have By studying rising sea lev- and wear (coral-friendly)
pointed out, these fossilized els and climate impact on sunscreen!q