Paula Khurma

Khurma is an East Indian delicacy that is made and sold commercially in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a sweet fried dough coated in a sugar syrup. It can either be hard or soft to chew. Think of a spicey dough with a sugary glaze.

Khurma can be found and purchased throughout the island at school ‘tuck shops’, pharmacies, supermarkets and corner shops. East Indian in origin they are also a staple treat at many Hindu and Moslem functions. Kurma in Trinidad can take one of two forms. Hard or thin kurma, which are like large matchsticks and crunchy, and soft or fat kurma which are much richer and pillowy in texture.

Hard kurma is by far the most popular form of kurma in Trinidad. It is fairly ubiquitous and is no doubt the image that pops into most minds when they hear the word. Some of this may have to do with it having a longer shelf life than ‘soft kurma’, some of it may also have to do with there being a larger Hindu community.