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Tuvalu Cuisine

Oceania · Polynesia

30 recipes

Signature Tuvalu Dishes

🥗 Ingredient:

Banana and Coconut Stew

A simple yet comforting stew that highlights the tropical flavors of banana and coconut. This dish is often served as a main course or a side, showcasing the natural sweetness of the ingredients.

Tuvalu·Easy·45 minutes

Breadfruit and Fish Fritters

Savory and satisfying fritters made from mashed breadfruit and flaked cooked fish, seasoned with local herbs and spices, and pan-fried to a golden crisp.

Tuvalu·Easy·40 minutes

Breadfruit Pancakes with Pandan Syrup

Fluffy pancakes made with mashed breadfruit, offering a slightly nutty and sweet flavor, served with a fragrant homemade pandan syrup.

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Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 5 minutes

Chicken Luau

A rich and savory dish featuring tender chicken simmered in coconut cream with taro leaves, onions, and garlic. This dish is a comforting staple, often prepared for family gatherings and special occasions.

Tuvalu·Easy·25 minutes

Coconut Breadfruit Fritters

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these fritters are a delightful way to enjoy breadfruit, a staple in Tuvalu. The addition of coconut adds a subtle sweetness and texture, making them a perfect snack or side dish.

Tuvalu·Easy·40 minutes

Fa'alifu Fai

A simple yet flavorful dish of green bananas simmered in creamy coconut milk, seasoned with salt and optional aromatics, serving as a staple side dish.

Tuvalu·Advanced·6 hours 15 minutes (minimum)

Fafaru

Fafaru is a unique and pungent Tuvaluan dish made from raw fish marinated in a fermented brine of seawater and shrimp. Despite its strong aroma, it has a delicate, slightly sweetish taste and is a testament to the resourceful use of local ingredients.

Tuvalu·Easy·45 minutes

Faka'i Fai

A traditional sweet treat from Tuvalu, this dessert features tender pandanus leaves simmered in coconut cream and sugar, creating a unique, fragrant, and chewy confection.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 5 minutes

Feke mo Lolo

A rich and savory dish featuring tender octopus simmered in creamy coconut milk with aromatic spices, showcasing the bounty of the ocean and the versatility of coconut in Tuvaluan cuisine.

Tuvalu·Medium·2 hours

Feke Pulaka mo Lolo

A traditional Tuvaluan dessert made from grated pulaka (swamp taro) mixed with coconut cream and steamed, often served as a sweet treat or snack.

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Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 15 minutes

Fekei Pulaka

A traditional Tuvaluan dessert or side dish made from grated pulaka (swamp taro) mixed with coconut cream and then steamed in pulaka leaves. It has a unique texture and a subtly sweet, creamy flavor.

Tuvalu·Easy·25 minutes

Ika Mata Lole

A refreshing and vibrant raw fish salad, 'Ika Mata Lole' features fresh, diced raw fish marinated in lime juice, mixed with finely chopped vegetables and a creamy coconut dressing. It's a light and flavorful dish, often served as an appetizer or a light meal.

Tuvalu·Easy·40 minutes

Ika Vakalolo mo Talise

A delicate white fish cooked in a rich, aromatic coconut sauce infused with pandan leaves, offering a subtly sweet and fragrant flavor profile.

Tuvalu·Easy·1 hour 25 minutes

Ikokore

Ikokore is a traditional Tuvaluan dish that combines the staple root vegetable, taro, with fresh fish, all steamed together in banana leaves. This method of cooking in leaves is common in Pacific Island cuisines and imparts a subtle, pleasant aroma to the food. It's a simple yet flavorful dish that highlights the reliance on local produce and seafood.

Tuvalu·Easy·1 hour 5 minutes - 1 hour 20 minutes

Palusami

Palusami is a traditional Tuvaluan dish made from taro leaves, coconut milk, and often seasoned with onions and garlic. It's a rich, creamy, and flavorful dish, typically baked or steamed until the leaves are tender and have absorbed the coconut milk's essence. It's a beloved dish for special occasions and family gatherings.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 5 minutes

Palusami Tuna Bake

A savory and comforting baked dish featuring tender taro leaves (palusami) layered with flaked tuna and a rich coconut cream sauce, topped with a crispy breadcrumb crust.

Tuvalu·Medium·3.5-4.5 hours

Pua'a Sio'ata

Pua'a Sio'ata is a traditional Tuvaluan dish featuring slow-cooked pork, often prepared for special occasions. It involves marinating pork in a flavorful mixture and then slow-cooking it until tender. This dish highlights the importance of pork in Tuvaluan celebrations and the use of local ingredients for flavor.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 10 minutes

Pulaka Pipi

A hearty and flavorful stew combining the starchy goodness of pulaka (swamp taro) with the briny taste of fresh clams, simmered in coconut milk.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 5 minutes

Pulaka Pulu Masi

A sweet and savory baked dish featuring fermented taro (pulaka) mixed with coconut cream and a touch of sugar, baked until tender and slightly caramelized. It's a comforting dessert or side dish.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 5 minutes

Pulaka Soup

A hearty and comforting soup made with pulaka (swamp taro), coconut milk, and aromatic spices, offering a taste of traditional Tuvaluan sustenance.

Tuvalu·Easy·35-40 minutes

Sago Pudding

A sweet and comforting dessert made from sago pearls cooked in coconut milk and sweetened. It's a popular treat across many Pacific Islands, including Tuvalu, often served chilled and sometimes flavored with local ingredients.

Tuvalu·Easy·1 hour 50 minutes

Talo Tokotokoi

A simple yet delicious Tuvaluan dish featuring baked taro mashed and generously coated with sweetened coconut cream. It's a comforting and popular dish often served at community gatherings.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour

Taro Leaf and Fish Bake

A comforting and flavorful bake featuring tender taro leaves and flaky white fish, simmered in creamy coconut milk and seasoned with local aromatics.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 5 minutes

Tavala Moa mo Fala

A comforting and flavorful dish of chicken cooked with young pandanus (fala) shoots and coconut cream, offering a unique blend of savory and slightly sweet notes characteristic of Tuvaluan cuisine.

Tuvalu·Easy·1 hour 5 minutes

Tuvalu Breadfruit and Fish Bake

A comforting and hearty bake combining flaky fish with soft breadfruit and a creamy coconut sauce, baked until golden.

Tuvalu·Medium·50 minutes

Tuvalu Coconut Tuna Curry

A flavorful curry featuring locally caught tuna simmered in creamy coconut milk with aromatic spices, onions, garlic, and ginger. This dish reflects Tuvalu's rich seafood heritage and incorporates influences from Asian and Indian cuisines.

Tuvalu·Easy·25-30 minutes

Tuvalu Grilled Fish with Lime and Chili

A simple yet flavorful dish featuring fresh fish grilled to perfection and seasoned with tangy lime and a hint of chili, showcasing the fresh flavors of Tuvaluan cuisine.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 10 minutes

Tuvalu Octopus Curry

A flavorful and tender octopus curry simmered in coconut milk with aromatic spices, a staple in Tuvaluan coastal cuisine.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 5 minutes

Tuvalu Seafood Curry with Taro Leaves

A rich and flavorful curry featuring fresh seafood and tender taro leaves simmered in coconut milk, infused with local spices.

Tuvalu·Medium·1 hour 15 minutes

Tuvalu Taro Leaf Rolls with Coconut

Tender taro leaves are blanched and then filled with a savory mixture, often including fish or minced meat, and steamed in coconut cream, creating a flavorful and comforting dish.

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