Kumu (Sweet Potato Leaf Greens)

Name: Kumu (Sweet Potato Leaf Greens)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Papua New Guinea
Ingredients: 1 lb sweet potato leaves (kumu), washed and chopped; 1 cup coconut milk; 1 onion, sliced; 1 tomato, diced; Salt, to taste

4 servings10 min prep15 min cookEasy Papua New Guinea

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Kumu (Sweet Potato Leaf Greens)

Story updated September 17, 2026

Kumu, the leafy tops of the sweet potato plant, reflects a resourceful Papua New Guinea Highlands tradition of using the whole kaukau plant, not just its tuber. Cooked simply as greens, it's a everyday staple that stretches a single crop into two distinct dishes.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

1 lb sweet potato leaves (kumu), washed and chopped
1 cup coconut milk
1 onion, sliced
1 tomato, diced
Salt, to taste

Instructions

1Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil and blanch the kumu leaves for 3 minutes, then drain well.
2Heat the coconut milk in a saucepan with the onion and tomato over medium heat.
3Add the blanched greens and simmer for 8-10 minutes until tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
4Season with salt to taste.
5Serve hot as a side dish with kaukau or fish.

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