Serve chilled green coconut water for a refreshing non-alcoholic drink.
Luau's are the traditional Hawaiian feasts, but feasts are a common tradition throughout the entire Pacific region. Explore cuisine from the many isles of the Pacific, including Samoa, Fiji and Tahiti to surprise the guests at your luau party. Fish, chicken and pork are traditional foods for pacific island feasts. Serve fruit punch and green coconut water as drinks for an island feel. Does this Spark an idea?
Traditional Hawaiian Luau
For a traditional Hawaiian luau, roast a side of pork with salt and pepper and serve with chili sauce and sliced limes in coconut shells. Make an assortment of side dishes, including corn on the cob and baked sweet potatoes. Serve the rest of your side dishes in bowls shaped like large clam shells. Make some raw fish salad with fresh or frozen tilapia. Cut your tilapia fillets into bite-sized chunks. Wash and drain the fish. Pour canned coconut cream over the fish with garlic and salt to taste. Add some curry to satisy spicy appetites.
American-ized Luau
Grill up some hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill and serve with mango salsa or papaya chutney. Make some grilled fruit, including pineapples and watermelon, and serve with ice cream. Mix up some Mai Tais and margaritas in tropical flavors and put paper umbrellas in all of your drinks. Serve traditional side dishes with a twist, including a green salad with papaya chunks macadamia nuts sprinkled on top. Or make coleslaw with coconut cream and a can of pineapple juice instead of mayonnaise.
Samoan Fiafia Night
Green leaves and coconut cream are served everywhere in the Pacific.
For a twist on a traditional luau, incorporate dishes from a traditional Samoan "fiafia night" feast. Palusami is a well-known Samoan dish. To create this dish, clean several taro leaves, collards or any other large green leafy vegetables. Lay a piece of aluminum foil down on a flat surface. Place several leaves on top of the foil and place a small piece of meat or poultry into the center of the dish with some chopped onions. Gather the foil edges up into a ball, leaving the top open. Pour enough canned coconut cream into the ball to just cover the meat. Fold the foil over to completely seal the ball. Place several balls in an oven-proof tray and bake until the leaves are soft and the meat is done.
Miti Sauce
Miti is a popular sauce used in traditional Fijian lovos, or "earth oven" feasts. Mix canned coconut cream with salt, spring onion, coriander, purple onion, chopped tomato and a small squirt of lime juice. In the meantime, cook potatoes, chicken and pork cuts by wrapping wrapping them in foil and baking. Serve the miti in a tall glass pitcher and poor over the baked goods, grilled fish or rice.
Tags: coconut cream, canned coconut, canned coconut cream, serve with, side dishes, chicken pork