Delicious Samoan Foods That Will Make Your Mouth Water

Samoa is known for many things, from its pristine beaches to its breathtaking waterfalls and rainforests. However, foodies around the world have taken particular interest in the traditional dishes native to this South Pacific island, which come with their own special twist that make them stand out even among other Polynesian delicacies. Even if you’re not planning on visiting Samoa anytime soon, these delicious samoan foods will make your mouth water and make you want to learn more about the country’s rich culinary history.

What to try

If you’re looking for a cheap and healthy breakfast, try oka – it’s a type of raw fish that’s marinated in lime juice and coconut milk. For something sweet, try fa’ausi – it’s a dessert made with coconut cream, taro, and banana. If you’re feeling adventurous, try palusami – it’s basically a spinach dish that’s wrapped in taro leaves and cooked in coconut milk. No matter what you try, you’re sure to find something delicious in Samoa!

Breakfast options in Samoa are simple and healthy, but they’re also very filling. When you visit, try oka – it’s a traditional breakfast that’s made with raw fish. Oka is essentially raw fish (usually tuna) marinated in lime juice and coconut milk, then wrapped in leaves and eaten with coconut cream. It can be served as an appetizer or main dish, so why not try it for both! Oka is sold by vendors on every street corner, often as early as 6:00 AM.

South Seas Spices

A little bit of Samoa can go a long way when it comes to flavor. Start your day with a savory breakfast of poi and fresh fish. For lunch, try cheap, but filling, dishes like palusami or oka ika. In the evening, enjoy a traditional meal of rice and vegetables cooked in an umu, or underground oven. End your night with some refreshing tropical fruits for dessert. You’ll be sure to enjoy Samoa’s tasty food culture!

Poi is a staple food in Samoa. It’s a paste-like mixture made from pounded taro and water, eaten for breakfast with fish or other meat. It comes in varying consistencies, and can be mixed with milk or coconut milk to create a less firm poi. The paste is left outside to ferment over several days and served warm with steamed banana, kai rice, smoked fish or chicken. Oka ika is another popular brakfast dish made from raw fish mixed with vegetables that have been cooked in an umu overnight and wrapped in taro leaves. Palusami (or palusami soup) is prepared similarly but served hot instead of cold as brakfast.

ʻAi pai au is a traditional lunch dish in Samoa. It’s prepared by mixing chopped meat, taro leaves and coconut milk in an umu before placing it on a banana leaf. The contents are then wrapped up like a burrito to be eaten after lunch with ‘iva, or cooked green bananas. Umu is also used to prepare oka ika and palusami at lunchtime.

Oceanic Seafood

The seafood in Samoa is some of the freshest and tastiest you’ll ever have. The waters around Samoa are teeming with fish, making it a seafood lover’s paradise. And because the Samoan people have such a strong connection to the sea, they know how to cook their seafood to perfection.
Whether you’re enjoying fresh tuna sashimi, poisson cru, or shrimp curry, you’re sure to be impressed by the flavors of Samoa.

Poisson cru is a delicacy made by first filleting a whole tuna fish and then grilling it over hot coals. This dish originated in Hawaii, but the Samoans have perfected it with a special honey-based marinade that adds delicious flavor to every bite. It can be served as an entrée or as part of a complete dinner spread, with other seafood dishes and sides like baked breadfruit, taro fritters, or another local favorite called Lau Lau (taro leaves wrapped around rice filling and cooked).

Lau Lau is made by wrapping taro leaves around a steamed mixture of salt-water crab, pork, or chicken and coconut milk. The dish is traditionally wrapped with woven pandanus leaves and then cooked in an underground oven for several hours. It’s often eaten as a side dish to another popular Samoan entrée called Palusami, which is made by boiling strips of tuna wrapped in ti leaves into a thick paste that’s sliced up and served alongside cooked rice.

Coconutty Desserts

One of the best things about Samoa is the food! Coconut is a staple ingredient in many Samoan dishes, and desserts are no exception. The most popular coconut dessert is probably palusami, which is basically a coconut custard wrapped in taro leaves and steamed. Another popular dessert is fa’ausi, or coconut pudding, which is made with coconut milk, tapioca pearls, and brown sugar. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, try koko Samoa, a chocolate drink made with coconut milk. And of course, no trip to Samoa would be complete without trying the famous Samoa cookie!

Taro is another popular ingredient in Samoan cuisine. The leaves of these tall plants are used to wrap cooked meat and other dishes, similar to cabbage or banana leaves. In fact, one of Samoa’s most well-known dishes is called palusami, which uses a taro leaf as a wrapper for coconut custard. Another dish that incorporates taro is su’esu’e, which is breadfruit mixed with coconut milk and served with sago pudding on top. A good side dish to eat with any meal from Samoa is kanefe’i (also spelled kanaihe’), which is taro chips covered in either syrup or gravy.

Yummy Savory Dishes

1. When it comes to food, Samoa knows how to deliver! Traditional Samoan dishes are packed with flavor, and will leave your taste buds begging for more.
2. One of the most popular Samoa dishes is oka, which is raw fish that has been marinated in lime juice and coconut milk. Oka is often served with taro or yams, and is a staple at Samoan feasts.
3. Another mouth-watering dish is palusami, which consists of taro leaves that have been wrapped in coconut cream and then baked in an underground oven. Palusami is usually served as a side dish, but can also be enjoyed on its own.
4. If you’re looking for a fresh, healthy meal, try rourou or vegetable soup. Rourou is cooked with coconut cream and contains a variety of vegetables like taro and yams. It’s often eaten during special occasions and on important holidays.
5. A popular dessert you can find in Samoa is valeata, which is a sweet treat made from flour, sugar and coconut milk. Over hot coals, the dough is wrapped around a stick and cooked. As it cooks, it puffs up in a beautiful coconut pastry that’s filled with coconut cream!