The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Niuean Foods. If you manage to be in an Niuean restaurant or you are visiting Niue, I recommend the following:
1. Banana Chips
A popular snack made by frying thin slices of plantain in coconut or palm oil. The chips are flavoured with salted water while still frying in oil. It is essentially used as a snack or accompaniment to other dishes.
2. Coconut Bread
Also called Pitako Pia, it is a traditional bread made with arrowroot and coconut milk. When cooled, it is eaten with butter or jam. It’s great with a hot cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or Koko (the traditional Samoan drink).
3. Coconut Crab
In Niue they are called “uga” and are common because most of the island is just a huge limestone jungle full of caves and holes, jagged rocks dotted with coconut trees. They are best roasted in the forest over cold coals (unfortunately, they are thrown into the fire like live lobsters). There is plenty of meat in the legs, claws and body, but the tastiest part is the tail. Coconut crab tails are rich in fat and have the consistency of foie gras.
4. Raw Fish in Coconut Cream
Also known as Ota Ika A popular dish throughout the South Pacific region, ota ika is Niue’s version of raw fish dipped or spiced in coconut cream. It is also often flavoured with chillies and lime, a common fruit grown on the island.
5. Corned Beef Brisket
Known locally as Povi masima due to Niue’s historical Samoan influence, it is a dish shared with Samoan cuisine. This dish is made of corned beef mixed with vegetables such as cabbage, spinach or bok choy. Again, this is another dish you can try during the umu buffet.
6. Niuean Porridge
This local dish is usually served for breakfast with coconut meat and arrowroot. Nane (or as the locals call it) has a consistency similar to porridge or dumplings. It is sometimes sold in Niuean markets.
7. Takihi
A Niuean favourite, takhihi, usually made in an umu (underground oven), is a creamy sweet and savoury treat made with taro, coconut cream and papaya, topped with thin slices of taro and papaya, then flavoured and baked with coconut milk. It’s a staple of many an umu night on the island.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Oceanian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.