Samoa Recipes
Polynesian kitchens ruled by taro, coconut, and the umu earth oven. Not sure what to eat in Samoa? Start with Palusami (Baked Coconut Taro Parcels), Oka I'a (Samoan Raw Fish in Coconut Cream), Fa'ausi and Koko Alaisa. Here are 8 authentic Samoa recipes, each from a specific region, with cultural context and dietary substitutions for every table.
8 recipes
Palusami (Baked Coconut Taro Parcels)Upolu, Samoa · easy · 1 h 20 minTaro leaves wrapped around rich coconut cream and onion, baked until silky, the crown of the umu feast.
Palusami (Baked Coconut Taro Parcels) Koko AlaisaUpolu, Samoa · easy · 35 minSamoan cocoa rice: short-grain rice simmered with rich local cocoa, coconut, and sugar into a warm, chocolatey porridge.
Fa'ausiUpolu, Samoa · easy · 2 hWarm squares of grated-taro cake folded through a dark, salty-sweet coconut caramel, a Samoan Sunday favorite.
Sapasui (Samoan Chop Suey)Upolu, Samoa · easy · 40 minSlippery glass noodles tossed with pork, soy, and ginger, the potluck and Sunday lunch Samoa borrowed and made its own.
Oka I'a (Samoan Raw Fish in Coconut Cream)Upolu, Samoa · easy · 20 minFresh fish cured briefly in lemon or lime, then folded into thick coconut cream with onion, tomato and cucumber.
Panipopo (Samoan Coconut Buns)Upolu, Samoa · medium · 2 h 45 minSoft sweet yeast buns baked sitting in a thick, sweetened coconut sauce until golden and sticky.
Keke Pua'a (Samoan Steamed Pork Buns)Upolu, Samoa · medium · 4 h 15 minSoft, slightly sweet yeast buns wrapped round pork braised with onion, garlic and dark soy sauce, twisted shut and steamed until fluffy, Samoa's take on char siu bao.
Fa'alifu Fa'i (Green Bananas in Coconut Cream)Upolu, Samoa · easy · 35 minPeeled green cooking bananas boiled until just tender, then simmered in salted coconut cream with onion until the sauce thickens and coats them, the everyday Samoan starch.
📋 Teaching Samoa?A free, printable Country of the Week guide for the classroom: geography, a kid-friendly recipe, and discussion prompts.
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