Food of Marshall Islands: 10 Traditional Marshallese Dishes
The Marshall Islands are a group of volcanic islands and coral atolls located in the central Pacific Ocean, neighboring Hawaii and the Philippines. There are a total of 1,156 islands and islets and a population of over 40,000.
The Marshall Islands are above ancient submerged volcanoes which rise from the ocean floor. The ocean surrounding the islands have been declared the world’s largest shark sanctuary.
The islands are home to numerous World War II relics, including sunken ships and aircraft, which are now popular scuba diving locations.
Most Popular Dishes of Marshall Islands
The main crops grown in Marshall Islands include coconut, pandanus, breadfruit, and taro.
Traditional dishes often include fish, such as tuna and mahi-mahi. The capital of the Marshall Islands, Majuro, is the busiest tuna transshipment port in the world, therefore this fish features in many dishes.
Marshallese cuisine has been influenced by Japanese, American, and other Pacific Island cuisines.
A major celebration in Marshall Islands is on a child’s first birthday, known as a kemem, where it is traditional for a variety of Marshallese dishes to be served to guests.
Chukuchuk (Rice Balls)
Chukuchuk is made of rice shaped into a ball and covered with shredded coconut. This sweet rice dish is served as a side to accompany fish and poultry dishes throughout Marshall Islands.
Chukuchuk is made in the Marshall Islands for every special occasion, including kemem celebrations.
Barramundi Cod
To make Barramundi Cod, an entire fresh barramundi cod is seasoned with , then tightly wrapped within banana leaves and baked. Cooking the fish while wrapped in banana leaves allows the moisture to stay in, creating a soft, buttery texture.
This dish is usually served with chukuchuk, sweet potatoes, and salad on the side.
Rice Banke (Pumpkin and Rice Porridge)
Rice Banke is pumpkin and rice porridge, which is made by boiling rice and pumpkin together and adding coconut milk to achieve a porridge-like consistency.
This is a side dish that is usually served along side fish like mahi mahi and vegetables like bok choy.
Sweet Potatoes & Fried Bananas
Sweet potatoes and fried bananas are a popular side dish in Marshall Islands; usually the sweet potatoes and unripe bananas are fried in coconut oil until crispy.
This is commonly served along side barbecued fish or pork dishes.
Coconut Crab
The coconut crab, also known as the king or giant crab, can be found on islands around Oceania. This crab has a sweet, delicate flavor similar to lobster and is often roasted whole or boiled in coconut milk.
Coconut crab soup is a popular dish in Marshall Islands which is made by boiling the crab meat with breadfruit, taro, noni fruit, and coconut cream.
Coconut crabs can grow up to 3 feet wide, making them highly prized in Marshallese cuisine, with Marshall Island communities holding annual crab festivals to celebrate the sea creatures.
Palusami (Corned Beef Curry)
Palusami is a Polynesian curry dish is made with corned beef and taro root leaves in a coconut milk-based curry. This curry dish has a mild flavor, with the sweet coconut milk balancing out the salty corned beef.
Palusami is usually served with rice, chukuchuk, and/or vegetables.
Breadfruit
Breadfruit, or ‘ma’ in Marshallese, is the most popular crop in the Marshall Islands; it is added to salads, baked until crisp, boiled, or fried. This fruit is often served as a side to grilled fish or a coconut-based curries.
The name of this fruit comes from its texture when it is cooked, which has a potato-like flavor, and is similar to bread.
Mafa (Breadfruit Pudding)
Mafa is a Marshallese dessert made by combining breadfruit with coconut milk and sugar to create a sweet pudding. This sweet dish is usually seasoned with vanilla and cinnamon for extra flavor.
Mafa is often served with whipped cream on top.
Island Breakfast (Spam, Eggs, and Rice)
This Marshallese breakfast is made with fried slices of spam, eggs, rice, and green onions. Spam, or corned beef, gained popularity after WWII.
This dish is also popular in Hawaii which is near Marshall Islands.
Macadamia Nut Pie
Marshall Islands macadamia nut pie is made with shredded coconut pressed into a pie pastry, which is then filled with a mixture of macadamia nuts, corn syrup, sugar, and vanilla extract and then baked.
The pie is cut into slices and served with a dollop of whipped cream. Macadamia nut pie is a popular dessert dish and is often served at special occasions and celebrations.
