Samoan Taro Recipes

AUNTIE IME'S FA'ALIFU TARO (SAMOAN TARO IN COCONUT ONION SAUCE) RECIPE - (3.8/5)

Steps:

• Peel taro while under running water or it can irritate the skin. Place peeled and quartered taro root in a saucepan, cover with water and heat until boiling. Then simmer until fork-tender. Prepare fa'alifu sauce by combining all onion and coconut milk, and heat over medium heat. If you like a very thin coating of coconut sauce, first season the coconut milk with salt. After draining your taro simply pour on the coconut sauce. If you like it thicker (we do) Drain the taro but leave them in the saucepan. Pour the coconut mixture over the taro and boil this for 5 minutes or until the onions are cooked. Be careful not to overcook your taro.

TENDER TARO ROOT COOKED IN COCONUT MILK

Steps:

• Bring the coconut milk to a boil in a saucepan; reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a simmer. Cook the taro root in the simmering coconut milk until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the white sugar, palm sugar, and salt to the mixture; stir until the sugars are entirely dissolved into the mixture. Stir the coconut cream through the mixture; continue cooking just until hot. Ladle into individual bowls to serve.

BOILED TARO WITH COCONUT MILK

Steps:

• Scrub the outside of the taro.
• Place in a pot with enough water to half cover the taro.
• Cover and boil for about 1 1/2 hours, or until tender. (Make sure the taro is cooked very well, for the starches can irritate and scratch the throat if not cooked through completely).
• Remove and cool.
• Peel away the outside skin and chop taro into large cubes. (Cooked taro at this point can be mashed and formed into cakes that are delicious sauteed with butter).
• Place the coconut milk and the taro cubes into a saucepan and heat thoroughly.
• There should be enough milk to just cover the taro.
• Taste during cooking to see if taro needs more salt.

SAMOAN PALUSAMI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Make a layer of spinach leaves in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with some of the corned beef, then keep repeating layers of spinach and corned beef until you run out of spinach. Don't worry about how full the dish is because the spinach will shrink as it cooks. Pour both cans of coconut milk over the dish, pressing the leaves down with a spoon. Cover tightly with a lid or aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until spinach has completely wilted and the sauce is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.