Tuvaluan Palusami

Name: Tuvaluan Palusami
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Tuvalu
Ingredients: 20 young taro leaves; 2 cups coconut cream; 1 small onion, chopped; Salt, to taste; Foil or banana leaves, for wrapping

6 servings20 min prep60 min cookMedium Tuvalu

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Tuvaluan Palusami

Story updated September 17, 2026

Tuvalu's palusami follows the same coconut cream and taro leaf tradition found throughout Polynesia, prepared for feasts and community gatherings. As in Samoa and Tonga, it reflects the shared reliance on taro and coconut that defines much of the wider Pacific Island culinary tradition.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

20 young taro leaves
2 cups coconut cream
1 small onion, chopped
Salt, to taste
Foil or banana leaves, for wrapping

Instructions

1Preheat oven to 350°F.
2Layer the taro leaves to form a sturdy parcel base.
3Mix the coconut cream, onion, and salt together and spoon into the center of the leaves.
4Fold the leaves over the filling to enclose it completely, then wrap in foil or banana leaves.
5Bake for 50-60 minutes until the taro leaves are tender.
6Unwrap and serve hot as a side dish with fish.

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