Sweet, succulent, and fresh, Polynesian recipes represent the cuisine of the Pacific Islands known as Polynesia.
A number of distinct islands actually make up Polynesia, including Hawaii, New Zealand, Easter Island, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Pitcairn Island.
Each island has distinct cuisines, but many popular dishes are shared across the Pacific Ocean. Here, we’ve compiled some of the most delicious meals you can have in Polynesia. From ahi poke and Samoan chicken to coconut sweet rolls and dumplings in coconut caramel, there’s something here for everyone!
1. Hawaiian-Style Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
This tender, fall-apart pork shoulder is traditionally cooked in an underground oven (made by digging a hole in the ground) called an imu. This recipe makes use of a slow cooker and liquid smoke to replicate that mouthwatering BBQ taste.
2. Hawaiian-Style Ahi Poke
This raw fish dish, which gained far and wide popularity in the last decade, has its origins in Hawaiian cuisine. At its most basic level, poke consists of cubed fish tossed with sesame oil and soy sauce. It is wildly popular in Hawaii and continues to be one of the state’s favorite foods.
3. Lomi Lomi Salmon Salad With Avocado
If you like poke, you’ll love this dish, which comes together with cubed salmon and a tomato-and-avocado salad.
4. Moa Fa’Asaina (Samoan Chicken With Coconut Rice)
This chicken gets its color and depth of flavor from a combination of dark soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and plenty of onion. Like many Polynesian dishes, it goes well with a helping of coconut rice.
5. Alaisa Fa’apopo (Samoan Coconut Rice)
Alaisa fa’apopo, which literally means rice that’s been coconut’ed, comes together with its two namesake ingredients, water, and salt. It’s simple, delicious, and a must-have base for many island dishes.
6. Faikakai Malimali (Dumplings in Sweet Coconut Syrup)
There’s no way to go wrong with dumplings made with ripe bananas, coconut, and butter, but you add coconut caramel and then it’s really game over for all other desserts out there.
7. Pani Popo (Samoan Coconut Bread Rolls)
If you haven’t realized it yet, the secret ingredient in Polynesian dishes that makes everything taste better is called coconut milk. Try out these angelic sweet rolls to taste the difference when a full can of coconut milk is added to your bread.
8. Hawaiian Meatballs
These meatballs get elevated with a sauce that’s sweet and savory thanks to crushed pineapple, honey, and soy sauce. Make sure you make enough rice to mop up all the leftover sauce on your plate.
9. Kiwi Meat & Cheese Pie
There’s nothing more comforting than this mince-and-cheese pie, whose surprise ingredient of Marmite adds complexity to an already savory dish.
10. Whitebait Fritters
Whitebait fritters are a popular New Zealand finger food made with the coveted tiny fish that swarm New Zealand rivers.
11. Malasadas
These sugar-dusted puffs of dough are Hawaii’s version of donuts. In this recipe, they’re filled with haupia (coconut) custard for a decadent touch.
12. Anzac Biscuits
Enjoyed across Australia and New Zealand, these flat cookies came about during World War I, when eggs were in short supply. They’re made with oats, flour, butter, and golden syrup (and, as always, no eggs).
13. Tahitian Poisson Cru
One day you’ll discover that Polynesian ceviche is an aphrodisiac, and I’ll say I told you so. This juicy, savory fish dish is smothered in lime juice, coconut milk, and mixed with chopped tomatoes and peppers. It’s savory, tart, crunchy, and absolutely perfect.
14. Kelaguen Mannok (Chamorro-Style Chicken Salad)
I love Polynesian cuisine because it inspires me to try new techniques I would never have considered before. Here, chicken is mixed with fresh lemon juice and shredded coconut and then combined with onions and chilis. The texture and marriage of flavors is sublime.
15. Huli Huli Chicken
Even if you don’t have a grill to cook this chicken over, a sticky-sweet huli huli sauce made with pineapple juice and soy sauce will make sure you get all the original flavor of this recipe.
16. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Everyone loves a macaroni salad. In Hawaii, it’s a side dish served with as few ingredients as macaroni, carrots, mayo, salt, and pepper.
17. Banana Po’e
If you’re into bananas, this milky banana “bread” is about to be your new favorite dessert. It’s made with an entire bunch of ripe bananas and coconut milk, then cubed and drizzled with coconut cream.
18. Samoan Spice Cake
This spiced cake is made with the trifecta of nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon and served with a generous helping of custard sauce or butter.
19. Firi Firi (Coconut Donuts)
Usually eaten for breakfast, these fried “8”-shaped donuts are made with equal parts coconut water and coconut milk. You usually eat them with sugar sprinkled on top, but they’re just as scrumptious and amazingly coconutty without.
20. Kapisi Pulu (Simmered Corned Beef)
This festive recipe is originally made by combining canned corned beef with vegetables, then baking the mixture in banana leaves. If banana leaves are not available at your local grocery store, this recipe might work better for you!
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