Kiribati Coconut Fish

Name: Kiribati Coconut Fish
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Kiribati
Ingredients: 1 lb reef fish fillets, cubed; 2 cups coconut cream; 1 onion, sliced; 1 lime, juiced; Salt, to taste

Photo: Eric Chan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

4 servings20 min prep20 min cookEasy Kiribati

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Kiribati Coconut Fish

Story updated September 17, 2026

Kiribati's low-lying coral atolls have very little arable land, making fish and coconut the backbone of the traditional diet. Coconut fish, simply prepared, reflects that resource-limited environment directly, showing how atoll geography shapes what ends up on the plate.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

1 lb reef fish fillets, cubed
2 cups coconut cream
1 onion, sliced
1 lime, juiced
Salt, to taste

Instructions

1Marinate the fish cubes in lime juice and salt for 15 minutes.
2Heat the coconut cream in a saucepan with the sliced onion over medium heat.
3Once simmering, add the marinated fish along with its juices.
4Simmer gently for 10-12 minutes until the fish is cooked through and the sauce has slightly thickened.
5Adjust seasoning with more salt if needed.
6Serve hot with steamed rice or breadfruit.

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