Reef Fish in Lemon Coconut Sauce

Name: Reef Fish in Lemon Coconut Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Nauru
Ingredients: 4 whole reef fish, cleaned; 300ml coconut milk; 2 lemons, juiced; 1 onion, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 thumb ginger, grated; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; Salt and pepper to taste

4 servings15 min prep25 min cookEasy Nauru

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Reef Fish in Lemon Coconut Sauce

Story updated September 17, 2026

This dish reflects Nauru's reliance on reef fish as a dietary staple, given the tiny island nation's very limited land for agriculture. Coconut and citrus, both well-suited to the island's tropical climate, form the backbone of much traditional Nauruan home cooking.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

4 whole reef fish, cleaned
300ml coconut milk
2 lemons, juiced
1 onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 thumb ginger, grated
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1Score the fish on both sides and season with salt and pepper.
2Heat the oil in a large pan and pan-fry the fish for 3-4 minutes per side until golden; remove and set aside.
3In the same pan, sauté the onion, garlic and ginger until fragrant.
4Pour in the coconut milk and lemon juice and bring to a gentle simmer.
5Return the fish to the pan and spoon the sauce over it, simmering for 8-10 minutes until the fish is fully cooked and infused with flavor.
6Season the sauce with additional salt to taste.
7Serve hot with rice or breadfruit, spooning extra sauce over the top.

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