Nauruan Cuisine: 7 Traditional Dishes of Nauru
Nauru is a small island country located in the Pacific Ocean, south of the equator. The island was originally settled by Micronesian and Polynesian peoples, with the first inhabitants arriving around 3,000 years ago.
During the 1800s, European and American whalers and traders began visiting the island, and Nauru became a German protectorate in 1888.
When Nauru gained independence on January 31st 1968, it became the world’s smallest independent republic.
Most Popular Dishes of Nauru
Due to their island environment, Nauruans consume a large amount of seafood, such as .
Coconut is a major ingredient in many Nauruan dishes, it is used in various forms such as coconut milk, cream, and oil. Fruits like pandanus, breadfruit, and bananas are commonly eaten in Nauru too.
Taro, cassava, and yams are included in many dishes as a side dish or as part of main dishes.
Nauru has limited capacity for agriculture which means that many foods must be imported, making canned foods popular ingredients in many recipes.
Traditional methods like cooking in an umu, an earth oven, are still used on special occasions. Some traditional recipes involve wrapping foods in taro leaves before cooking.
Coconut Fish
Raw fish, often tuna, mixed with coconut milk, which can be served alone or with white rice. The coconut milk gives a rich, creamy flavor to the fish.
This dish is considered to be the national dish of Nauru.
Similar coconut milk-fish dishes can be found in other island nations, such as Samoa.
Palusami (Taro Leaves Stuffed with Spam)
A dish made of taro leaves stuffed with coconut cream and canned meat, like Spam, then baked or steamed.
Spam Fried Rice
Spam (canned pork) is cut into slices and fried, served with a side of rice. This dish is also often accompanied by eggs or vegetables.
Spam became popular in Nauru during WWII, and it is still a staple ingredient.
Fried Spam dishes are also popular in other island nations, including Palau and the Marshall Islands.
Lemon Chicken
Nauruan-style lemon chicken involves marinating chicken pieces in lemon juice before being frying until crispy and golden brown.
Lemon chicken is usually served with a side of rice and extra lemon to garnish.
This recipe is originally from China, and is very popular in Nauru. Lemon chicken can be found in Chinese restaurants in Nauru and at street food stalls.
Coconut Crusted Fish (Breaded Fish)
Naurun coconut crusted fish involves coating white fish in shredded coconut and breadcrumbs before frying. The fish may also be marinaded in lime juice for extra flavor.
This dish is often served with a side of white rice and vegetables.
Breadfruit Chips (Fried Breadfruit)
Breadfruit is sliced thinly and fried until crispy, similar to potato chips. These are consumed as a snack or side dish in Nauru.
Breadfruit is in the same family as jackfruit, it has a mild nutty flavor.
Pandanus Tea
Pandanus Tea is a herbal tea made from dried Pandan leaves.
In Nauru, this tea is believed to have many health benefits, including improving sleep and stomachache relief.
