tongan Recipes
19 delicious tongan recipes from around the world
Faikakai Malimali (Banana Dumplings in Coconut Caramel)
A delightful Tongan dessert featuring soft, sweet dumplings made with ripe bananas, served in a rich, homemade coconut caramel sauce. Faikakai is a traditional sweet treat, and this banana version is a popular and comforting choice.
Feke Lolo (Octopus in Coconut Cream)
A simple yet flavorful Tongan dish featuring tender octopus simmered in rich coconut cream with onions. This dish highlights the fresh seafood and tropical ingredients common in Tongan cuisine.
Haka Mei Moa (Breadfruit and Chicken with Coconut)
A hearty and comforting dish combining the starchy goodness of breadfruit with tender chicken, all simmered in a rich coconut milk sauce. This recipe showcases the versatility of breadfruit and the staple use of coconut in Tongan cooking.
Kapisi Pulu (Cabbage and Corned Beef in Coconut Cream)
A savory and comforting Tongan dish featuring tender corned beef and cabbage simmered in rich coconut cream. Traditionally cooked in an 'umu (underground oven), it can also be prepared in a conventional oven. This dish highlights the Tongan use of readily available ingredients and the beloved flavor of coconut.
Lu Sipi
Lu Sipi is a beloved Tongan dish featuring tender lamb (sipi) slow-cooked with onions in creamy coconut milk, all wrapped and steamed within nutritious taro leaves (lu). Traditionally cooked in an underground oven ('umu'), it's a rich, flavorful, and comforting meal often reserved for special occasions and family gatherings.
Ota Ika
Ota Ika is a traditional Tongan raw fish salad, often considered the national dish. It features fresh, diced raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice, then mixed with creamy coconut milk, finely diced onions, tomatoes, and sometimes chili peppers for a touch of spice. It's a refreshing and flavorful dish deeply connected to Tonga's maritime culture.
Tongan Beef and Taro Stew
A hearty and comforting stew featuring tender chunks of beef slow-cooked with starchy taro root, infused with the subtle sweetness of coconut milk and aromatic spices.
Tongan Chicken and Taro Leaf Bake (Lū Moa)
A comforting and flavorful bake featuring tender chicken pieces enveloped in nutrient-rich taro leaves, simmered in creamy coconut milk. This dish, a variation of the traditional 'Lū', showcases the heart of Tongan cuisine with its simple yet delicious ingredients.
Tongan Chicken Lu Sipi
A flavorful Tongan dish featuring chicken cooked in coconut cream with taro leaves, similar to the traditional lu sipi but using chicken instead of lamb.
Tongan Coconut Chicken with Root Vegetables (Kale Moa Haka)
A comforting and flavorful dish where chicken is simmered in a rich coconut milk sauce with aromatic spices, served alongside tender root vegetables like taro and sweet potato. This dish highlights the Tongan love for coconut and root crops.
Tongan Fish Curry with Coconut
A fragrant and mildly spiced fish curry, rich with coconut milk and local vegetables, showcasing the fresh seafood of Tonga.
Tongan Fish in Banana Leaves
Fresh fish steamed in banana leaves with coconut cream, herbs, and vegetables, a traditional and healthy way to prepare seafood in Tonga.
Tongan Fish in Coconut and Lime
A delicate and flavorful dish featuring white fish gently cooked in a creamy coconut milk sauce infused with fresh lime and aromatic ginger and garlic. This recipe highlights the fresh seafood and tropical flavors characteristic of Tongan cuisine.
Tongan Grilled Fish with Lime and Chili
Fresh white fish fillets marinated in a vibrant blend of lime juice, chili, garlic, and ginger, then grilled to perfection, offering a zesty and slightly spicy island flavor.
Tongan Passionfruit Chicken
A vibrant and zesty chicken dish marinated in a unique blend of passionfruit, lime, ginger, and spices, then baked to perfection. This recipe captures the tropical essence of Tonga, with a delightful balance of sweet, tart, and savory flavors.
Tongan Pork and Taro Leaf Bake (Lefakau)
A hearty and flavorful Tongan dish featuring tender pork and vegetables slow-cooked and steamed within taro leaves, often further wrapped in banana leaves for added aroma and moisture. This method infuses the ingredients with a rich, earthy flavor.
Tongan Roast Pork with Taro
A celebratory Tongan dish featuring succulent slow-roasted pork, often cooked in an umu (earth oven), served with tender steamed taro.
Tongan Sapasui
A Tongan adaptation of the popular Polynesian dish 'chop suey', Sapasui is a flavorful noodle dish typically made with thinly sliced meat (often pork or beef), vegetables, and a savory soy-based sauce. It's a hearty and satisfying meal, often served at gatherings.
Tongan Taro Leaf and Beef Bake (Lu Pulu)
A traditional Tongan comfort food, Lu Pulu features tender corned beef and onions baked within a parcel of taro leaves, all enveloped in creamy coconut milk. It's a rich, savory dish with earthy undertones.