Fijian Palusami

Name: Fijian Palusami
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Fiji
Ingredients: 20 young taro leaves; 2 cups coconut cream; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 lb corned beef or canned tuna; Salt, to taste; Banana leaves, for wrapping

6 servings20 min prep60 min cookMedium Fiji

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Fijian Palusami

Story updated September 17, 2026

Palusami, taro leaves filled with coconut cream and sometimes meat or onion, is a staple across the Pacific Islands, with Fiji's version traditionally cooked in a lovo earth oven. It showcases two of the region's most fundamental ingredients, taro and coconut, in a dish shared across Polynesian and Melanesian cultures.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

20 young taro leaves
2 cups coconut cream
1 onion, finely chopped
1 lb corned beef or canned tuna
Salt, to taste
Banana leaves, for wrapping

Instructions

1Preheat oven to 350°F.
2Layer several taro leaves together to form a sturdy parcel base.
3Mix the coconut cream, onion, and corned beef together, then spoon into the center of the leaves.
4Fold the taro leaves over the filling to fully enclose it, then wrap the parcel in banana leaves.
5Place the parcels seam-side down in a baking dish.
6Bake for 50-60 minutes until the taro leaves are tender and cooked through.
7Unwrap and serve hot with rice.

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