Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

Tuvalu

Simple atoll cuisine of pulaka taro, flying fish, breadfruit and fresh palm toddy. That is the short version of what Tuvalu cooks. Look for Pulaka (swamp taro from communal pits, boiled or baked in coconut cream), Kaleve (sweet coconut toddy collected morning and evening, the staple drink) and Grilled Flying Fish (flying fish caught at night by torchlight, grilled whole). Swamp taro is grown in large pits dug to the freshwater lens; rising seas and salt intrusion are now killing pits across the atolls. This atlas has 14 Tuvalu dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.

14 dishes.

Coconut CrabCoconut CrabGiant land crab roasted in its shell; rich, coconut-scented meat and fat.Coconut SproutCoconut SproutSpongy sweet embryo inside a germinating coconut, scooped out and eaten raw.Coconut Toddy SyrupCoconut Toddy SyrupPalm sap boiled to a thick dark syrup; spread on bread and puddings.Faiai EleniFaiai EleniTinned herring simmered in coconut cream with onion, ladled over riceFekeiFekeiSticky pudding of grated pulaka or banana cooked with coconut cream and syrupFermented BreadfruitFermented BreadfruitBreadfruit sealed in leaf-lined pits for months; sour paste baked into cakes.Grilled Flying FishGrilled Flying FishFlying fish caught at night by torchlight, grilled wholeKaleveKaleveSweet coconut toddy collected morning and evening, the staple drinkPandanus FruitPandanus FruitFibrous orange keys chewed straight from the head for their sweet juice.PanikekePanikekeDeep-fried round banana pancake balls sold in bags, sweet snackPulakaPulakaSwamp taro from communal pits, boiled or baked in coconut creamRaw Fish in Coconut CreamRaw Fish in Coconut CreamFresh tuna or reef fish with lime and thick coconut creamRoast BreadfruitRoast BreadfruitBreadfruit roasted whole on coals, eaten with kamaimai syrupSour ToddySour ToddyPalm toddy fermented a day or two into a tart, mildly alcoholic drink

  • Coconut Sprout

    Spongy sweet embryo inside a germinating coconut, scooped out and eaten raw. Ready in 10 minutes prep and none cooking.…

  • Coconut Toddy Syrup

    Palm sap boiled to a thick dark syrup; spread on bread and puddings. Ready in collecting takes daily work prep…

  • Faiai Eleni

    Tinned herring simmered in coconut cream with onion, ladled over rice. Ready in 10 minutes prep and 20 minutes cooking.…

  • Fermented Breadfruit

    Breadfruit sealed in leaf-lined pits for months; sour paste baked into cakes. A fermented & pickled recipe from Solomon Islands.

  • Fekei

    Sticky pudding of grated pulaka or banana cooked with coconut cream and syrup. Ready in 40 minutes prep and 40…

  • Grilled Flying Fish

    Flying fish caught at night by torchlight, grilled whole. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 15 minutes cooking. Serves 4.…

  • Panikeke

    Deep-fried round banana pancake balls sold in bags, sweet snack. Ready in 15 minutes prep and 25 minutes cooking. Makes…

  • Pandanus Fruit

    Fibrous orange keys chewed straight from the head for their sweet juice. Ready in 15 min prep and none cooking.…

  • Raw Fish in Coconut Cream

    Fresh tuna or reef fish with lime and thick coconut cream. Ready in 30 minutes prep and none cooking. Serves…

  • Roast Breadfruit

    Breadfruit roasted whole on coals, eaten with kamaimai syrup. Ready in 10 min prep and 1 hour cooking. 6 servings.…