Solomon Islands Motu

Name: Solomon Islands Motu
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 180 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Solomon Islands
Ingredients: 3 lbs assorted fish and pork; 4 sweet potatoes, peeled; 2 cassava roots, peeled; Slippery cabbage or greens; Banana leaves, for lining; Salt, to taste

8 servings30 min prep150 min cookMedium Solomon Islands

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Solomon Islands Motu

Story updated September 17, 2026

Motu is the Solomon Islands' version of earth oven cooking, in which root vegetables and meat are wrapped and cooked over heated stones, a technique shared broadly across Melanesia under different local names. It remains an important method for communal feasts and celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale:· 8 servings

3 lbs assorted fish and pork
4 sweet potatoes, peeled
2 cassava roots, peeled
Slippery cabbage or greens
Banana leaves, for lining
Salt, to taste

Instructions

1Heat stones over a large fire in a dug pit until white-hot, about 1.5 hours.
2Line the pit with banana leaves once the stones are ready.
3Arrange the fish, pork, sweet potatoes, cassava, and greens over the hot stones, seasoning with salt.
4Fold the banana leaves over the food to seal it in completely.
5Cover with soil to trap the heat and steam.
6Cook for 2-2.5 hours, then carefully uncover.
7Serve the smoky fish, pork, and root vegetables together on banana leaves.

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