The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Papua New Guinean Foods. If you manage to be in an Papua New Guinean restaurant or you are visiting Papua New Guinea, I recommend the following:
1. Kokoda
This is one of the typical dishes of Papua New Guinea, but it is also present in Fijian cuisine. This dish consists of fish, which is cooked in coconut sauce and lime sauce. Additionally, you can add a lot of seasonings and salts to enhance the flavour. The final preparation looks quite similar to ceviche, making it a much enjoyed dish by locals and tourists alike. It is available in a large number of restaurants and food stalls throughout the country.
2. Kol Pis No Rais
This is one of the simplest dishes found in Papua New Guinea. It consists of fish and white rice, and it is important to note that the fish used is usually canned. In addition, multiple types of fish can be used, although the most common is tuna. Also, different vegetables, spices and condiments can be added if desired, such as adobo, corn, peas, onions and tomatoes. It can be enjoyed as an appetizer before the main course or as a main course directly, and is usually eaten cold.
3. Kaima Bona Gatoi
Kaima bona gatoi is a vegetable dish consisting of aubergine, peppers, onions and courgettes. Before cooking, all the vegetables are dipped in olive oil, vinegar, garlic and spices or herbs. This dish usually complements main courses such as meat and fish. It can also be enjoyed with other dishes at different times of the day, such as lunch or dinner.
4. Chicken Pot
This dish, as its name suggests, consists of chicken stewed with various types of vegetables and coconut cream. It is also a very tasty dish, which can be served with white rice, bread or other foods. This dish is often prepared on weekdays to share with friends or family. However, it can also be enjoyed in restaurants without any inconvenience.
5. Bugandi Egg Drop Soup
This soup is one of the most popular soups that can be found in the country, and it is also extremely nutritious thanks to the large number of ingredients included. These include spinach, choko and spring onions. The soup is usually served with freshly baked soda bread. It is available in many restaurants and independent shops.
6. Dia (Sweet Sago Dish)
This dish combines sago and plantain ingredients, cooked in a thick coconut cream. Sometimes called Saksak Dia by the Motu people of southern Papua New Guinea, they are used interchangeably due to differences in cooking styles. Some traditional cuisines do not use sugar, but use the sweeter bananas to sweeten the food.
7. Kaukau (Sweet Potato)
This dish can be prepared with a wide variety of sweet potatoes, one of the most commonly used for its preparation is sweet potatoes. Once baked and softened, it is necessary to carefully remove the skin and mash them with some additional ingredients, such as coconut oil and milk, cinnamon, eggs, cheese, ginger and garlic. Once the mixture is ready, it needs to be served again in the removed skin. Afterwards, they should be put back in the oven and wait a few minutes until they are ready to eat.
8. Saksak (Sago Pearls Dumpling)
This dish is very typical of the Papua New Guinea coast. It consists of dumplings which are made into a rectangular shape. This dish is also made with sago, sometimes this ingredient is substituted with cassava, on the other hand, mashed plantain is also added. After a homogeneous dough has been formed, it is necessary to wrap it in banana leaves. After that it is necessary to boil this dough in coconut milk, the cooking process only takes a few minutes. It is very common to enjoy this preparation during lunch or dinner.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Oceanian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.