The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Tokelauan Foods. If you manage to be in an Tokelauan restaurant or you are visiting Tokelauan, I recommend the following:
1. Ugauga
In fact, it is the local name for the coconut crab, a hermit crab that lives on the islands of Vanuatu. In neighbouring countries, it is considered a delicacy. Coconut crabs have no recognisable shell colour and can be seen in a variety of colours, including dark purple, bright blue, orangey red, brown and even mixed shades of yellow, red and blue.
2. Taro
Also known as eddo or daseen, it is a tropical plant that produces starchy tubers with brown skin and white flesh with purple spots. Although often referred to as “taro root”, this vegetable is not technically a root, but an underground bulb or stem. Taro tastes like sweet potato but has less moisture, which gives it a crispier effect when baked or fried.
3. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes have a creamy texture and a sweet and spicy taste, which makes them ideal for savoury dishes. There are two types, one with bright orange flesh and one with pale creamy flesh. Traditionally, sweet potatoes are baked, roasted or mashed.
4. Ota
Is an oceanic dish composed of raw fish marinated in citrus juice and coconut milk. The Tongan, Tahitian and Samoan versions are basically the same, with the raw fish marinated briefly in lemon or lime juice until the flesh becomes cloudy. The fish is then mixed with coconut milk and cubed vegetables. Hawaiian kule is similar, although it does not use citrus juice or coconut milk.
5. Breadfruit
The breadfruit is light green in colour with a warty exterior, while the flesh is creamy and starchy. When the breadfruit is ripe, the flesh becomes soft. It can be baked, stuffed, mashed and baked. The green fruit can be used like potatoes and has a similar taste, which is why it is often used in Asian curries. Ripe breadfruit has a sweet taste and is often used in desserts or sliced and dried.
6. Pua’a
They are nothing more than steamed buns with different fillings, salty and sweet. Pua’a is the local version of soma, sometimes found in Chinese restaurants. Traditionally, a favourite here is served with minced meat, usually pork. The usual Samoan filling is a basic mixture of pork, onion, garlic and seasonings such as soy sauce.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Oceanian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.