Step by step instructions for making iconic (and newly created) dishes from the islands of Oceania.
Taro, green banana and breadfruit are some 'official' staples in the Pacific, but we love our rice, too! Samoans have several rice-based favourites, including koko alaisa and alaisa fa’apopo, but sua alaisa is probably the simplest to make. Alaisa (or araisa) is the...
Every now and then, the stomach craves the foods of my childhood. Among the many – Spam musubi is ranked in the top three. This Hawaiian snack (with Japanese origins) is made in a variety of ways depending on the salivating taste buds of the consumer. Spam was a main...
I’ve been told so many times about the deliciousness of the Niuean takihi and that it is a crime that I hadn't tried it already - ekkk! So naturally, I messaged my Niuean faves and asked them if they could demonstrate how to cook Niuean Takihi. In true Pacific people...
For first-timers, a pink potato salad combined with mixed frozen vegetable can look weird and borderline ewww. But actually, this is one of the most well known salads in the Polynesian community... it's so yummy, you can never get enough of it. What was tricky about...
Lots of Asian countries do a coconut and rice dish, but they don’t do it like Samoans do. (As far as I know.)
Alaisa fa’apopo literally means rice that’s been coconut’ed, which of course means that we’ve done something very coconut-y to the rice.
(I’m cracking myself up right now).
It’s all true, though.
If you're curious about what is 'ika mata' and what it taste like... then why not try out this simple, quick and easy recipe. But first let me tell you a bit about 'ika mata'. What is 'ika mata' and where does it come from? 'Ika mata' means 'Raw fish' in Rarotongan...
So… I have no idea how panipopo - those decadent buns soaked in sweet, velvety coconut cream - became a Samoan thing. I know that bakeries in Samoa are amazing, and have been for ages. Even my grandparents talked about getting up before the sun, seleni (shilling) in...
Here's a dish we most likely inherited from Asian settlers in the Pacific. Samoan curry is made with powdered Indian spices, but it isn't as strong or as fragrant as traditional curries. Instead it is creamier, with spices balanced in a soul-food kinda way by the...
We have a funeral in the family this week. My mom's beautiful Aunt lived a long, full life and was called a few days ago to rest in Paradise. Typical of many Samoan funerals, Auntie won't be buried until early next week. In the meantime, the family is spending a lot...
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