About 2 and a half years ago my husband and I had our honeymoon in Fiji on one of their islands called Mana Island. Every night one of the restaurants would have a buffet with a different “theme” eg Chinese, European and Fijian. The one I always looked forward to was the Fijian one. They would do Lovo (similar to a Maori Hangi where vegetables and meat are baked in the ground, although for this resort it was in an oven) and all sorts of dishes based around fish and coconut. My husband was crying out for something coconut free by the end of it but not I, when we got back, I made the “Miti” sauce, a simple to prepare sauce consisting of Coconut milk with coriander, diced spring onions, spanish onion and tomato and I would eat it with grilled or steamed fish.
Miti coconut sauce
When M invited us over for a Fijian feast cooked by her boyfriend Semi, we were excited. There are no real Fijian restaurants in Sydney although there are plenty of Fijian markets and stores.
Steamed whole fish
We’re served delicious Ika (fish) , steamed whole and accompanied with spoonfuls of the Miti sauce (coconut milk or cream with onions, tomato and coriander). And boys being boys, S and In bags the eyeballs.
Smoked fish
There’s also Smoked fish where a fillet of smoked fish is covered with coconut milk and topped with sliced tomatoes, cabbage and onions and baked in the oven.
Smoked fish
Taro root-a dinner staple
No Fijian dinner is complete without Dalo (the taro root) steamed and sliced into pieces like bread, a staple at dinner.
Rou Rou: sauteed taro leaves
The Rou Rou are the coconut sauteed taro leaves which you can purchase here in a tin which are sauteed spinach like when cooked. Yes you are sensing right, coconut is most certainly a dominant theme.
Vakalavalava: Cassava Pudding
For dessert there is Vakalavalava which is a baked cassava pudding. Semi was able to buy some fresh Cassava from Flemington markets but frozen will do too and can be bought at Phillipino supermarkets where they call it Manioc. It’s a rich, dense pudding coated in sweetened evaporated milk and just perfect with Honey Butterscotch ice cream.
M also told me about trying Vudi (pronounced Voondi), a fat Fijian banana that tastes so good that it resembles banana ice cream. However it comes with a word of warning, after trying this her sons S and In won’t eat normal bananas after trying the ice cream flavoured banana. Logical really, but frustrating no doubt.
Vakalavalava
- 4 cups grated cassava
- 1 cup grated coconut
- 1/2 cup sugar
- sweetened evaporated milk to top
1. Mix the first 3 ingredients in a bowl and then press into a small, oiled baking tin (18×18cms)
2. Bake in a preheated oven at 180c for 20 or so minutes until firm.
3. Cool and cut into small slices (it is rich!) drizzle with sweetened evaporated milk
4. Serve with Butterscotch or vanilla ice cream
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17 Comments | Add your own
Wow wish to try fijan food, Seems really goos and as I really like coconut i bet it’s delicious.
Great photos !
I know what I’m cooking for dinner tonight!
You’re braver than I am! I wouldn’t have eaten a whole fish!
What i remember of fiji was Karva and coconut dishes galore!! Unfortauntely not my cup of tea………
This all looks delicious! I had Thai with friends last week, and I am hooked on coconut after that. I am particularly curious about the Vakalavalava – it appeals to my very sweet tooth!
Yum! What a lovely looking feast! I really do have to cook fish more often…
Hi snooky doodle-If you like coconut (and taro or cassava) then Fijian cuisine is definitely for you!
Thankyou!
Hi Teresa-Cool, which bit?
Hi Blond Duck-I guess you’re not one for Fish head curries? My friend M isn’t either but her boyfriend Semi loves it!
Hi sydneyguyrojoe-haha oh yes Kava! We didn’t try much of it (its repuation preceded it) but there was plenty of it along with coconuts!
Hi Cakelaw-Sounds like a nice meal!
It’s really unusual but good and similar to Chinese desserts in a way they use vegetables in desserts 
Hi Annie-I always say that too-I should eat more fish
That looks fantastic! I love having themed meals and trying new foods I’ve only read about.
I love the idea of being invited to a Fijian Feast, what interesting and fun friends you have! I would have loved partaking in this! It all looks very good. I need to find that icecream flavoured banana? Maybe it would get my girl eating banana’s?
Hi Jesse-Thanks so much!
I love themed meals too and exploring new cultures through food!
Hi Maria-I was very excited indeed! We’ve been looking for this banana all over Sydney but apparently they only have plantains which taste like potato. My friend tried it in Fiji so perhaps they don’t import it here
i hate to say it, but that whole fish is like a nightmare waiting to happen for me. it just gives me the willies.
Hi grace-Haha you and your fish!
That pudding looks great. Where would you get Vudi from?
Hi Y-I don’t know, I wish I did! I range a place in Newtown (Fiji Market) and they only had regular plantains but the moment I find them here, I’ll definitely post!
Wow…That ellipsis is for the time it took me to wipe the drool off my chin! Those are stunning photos, and I really enjoyed reading about your Fijian food experiences. The food definitely has similarities to food in Hawaii, but I’d like to get back to Fiji one day soon to compare. Great post!
Oh thanks for sharing this with us. Just looking at the photos made my mouth water and take me back to when I was little girl in Fiji and Mum and my aunts placing these on the table at Christmas or Easter and even our Sunday lunches were a great family get together.
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[...] ça vous obligera à lire les recettes ! Je n’ai pas eu le temps de réaliser la sauce Miti, ni les crevettes cuite avec du lait de coco et des feuilles de rourou [...]
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