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Tonga Cuisine

Oceania · Polynesia

26 recipes

Signature Tonga Dishes

🥗 Ingredient:

Faikakai Malimali

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.

Tonga·Easy·45 minutes

Feke Lolo

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.

Tonga·Medium·1 hour 5 minutes

Haka Mei Moa

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.

Tonga·Medium·1 hour 50 minutes

Kapisi Pulu

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.

Tonga·Medium·1 hour 55 minutes

Kelepi Moa

Kelepi Moa is a hearty and flavorful Tongan chicken stew, slow-cooked with root vegetables and infused with the rich taste of coconut milk. It's a comforting dish that showcases the staple ingredients of Tongan cuisine.

Tonga·Easy·40 minutes

Kelevi Ika

A comforting Tongan dish featuring pan-fried fish in a rich, savory gravy made with coconut milk, onions, and garlic. It highlights Tonga's abundant fresh seafood and the staple use of coconut.

Tonga·Medium·1 hour 20 minutes

Lu 'Kapapulu

A plant-based take on the traditional Tongan 'Lu' dishes, these parcels feature a savory filling of seasoned spinach and taro leaves steamed in coconut milk. This vegan version offers a taste of Tongan comfort food without meat.

Tonga·Medium·2 hours 30 minutes

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.

Tonga·Easy·1 hour

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.

Tonga·Medium·1 hour 35 minutes

Pele Sipi

Pele Sipi is a traditional Tongan dish featuring tender lamb cooked in rich coconut cream with pele leaves (Tongan spinach). It's a comforting and flavorful meal that highlights the unique local greens of Tonga.

Tonga·Medium·2 hours 55 minutes

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.

Tonga·Medium·1 hour 35 minutes

Tongan Chicken and Taro Leaf Bake

A comforting and traditional Tongan dish featuring tender chicken pieces baked with taro leaves and rich coconut cream, creating a savory and satisfying meal.

Tonga·Medium·1 hour 55 minutes

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.

Tonga·Easy·1 hour 5 minutes

Tongan Coconut Chicken with Root Vegetables

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.

Tonga·Easy·50 minutes

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.

Tonga·Easy·50 minutes

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.

Tonga·Easy·35 minutes

Tongan Fish in Coconut and Lime

A light and flavorful Tongan seafood dish where fresh fish is gently cooked in a creamy coconut milk sauce infused with the zest of lime and aromatic ginger and garlic.

Tonga·Easy·25-27 minutes

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.

Tonga·Easy·50 minutes

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.

Tonga·Medium·1 hour 30 minutes

Tongan Pork and Taro Leaf Bake

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.

Tonga·Easy·1 hour

Tongan Pumpkin and Cassava Pudding

A comforting and subtly sweet pudding made from mashed pumpkin and cassava, enriched with creamy coconut milk. This dish is often prepared for village gatherings and celebrations, showcasing the harmonious blend of staple Tongan ingredients.

Tonga·Medium·3.5-4.5 hours

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.

Tonga·Easy·45 minutes

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.

Tonga·Easy·1 hour

Tongan Sweet Potato and Coconut Pudding

A simple yet delicious Tongan dessert made from mashed sweet potatoes mixed with creamy coconut milk and a touch of sugar, baked until tender and slightly caramelized.

Tonga·Medium·2 hours 20 minutes

Tongan Taro Leaf and Beef Bake

A comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender corned beef and nutrient-rich taro leaves, slow-cooked in creamy coconut milk. This 'Lu Pulu' is a staple in Tongan cuisine, often prepared communally and baked in an umu (traditional underground oven).

Tonga·Easy·25 minutes

Vai Siaine

A simple and comforting Tongan dessert made by simmering ripe bananas in creamy coconut milk until tender and sweet. This dish highlights the natural sweetness of bananas and the richness of coconut.

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