Fijian Palusami

Name: Fijian Palusami
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 12 large taro leaves, stems removed (or 1 lb large spinach or Swiss chard leaves); 1 1/2 cups coconut cream; 1/2 small onion, finely chopped; 1 red chilli, thinly sliced (optional); 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tbsp oil or butter, for greasing; Banana leaves or aluminum foil, for wrapping

Fijian palusami recipe: tender taro leaves wrapped around rich coconut cream, baked until silky and sweet. A smoky island classic from every Fijian table.

⏱ 15 minPrep time

🔥 30 minCook time

🍽 4Servings

🏷 Fiji KitchenCategory

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Palusami comes from the heart of Fijian village cooking: young taro leaves pounded with coconut cream, wrapped in banana leaf and baked in the lovo earth oven until the coconut turns thick and jammy. Every family has its own twist, some adding onion or a little corned beef.

What makes it unforgettable is the texture — soft, almost melting taro leaves soaked through with sweet, caramelised coconut. Serve it warm alongside kokoda, lovo pork or grilled fish.

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Step by stepInstructions

Blanch the taro leaves in boiling water for 3-4 minutes until pliable; drain and pat dry. Skip this step if using spinach.
Mix the coconut cream, onion, chilli and salt in a bowl.
Lay two leaves together, vein sides up, and spoon 2-3 tbsp of the coconut mixture into the center.
Fold the leaves into a neat parcel and wrap tightly in banana leaf or foil.
Place the parcels in a steamer or a 350°F oven for 45-60 minutes, until the coconut cream is thick and the leaves are very tender.
Serve warm, spooning any extra coconut sauce from the parcel over the top.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Fresh taro leaves must always be cooked thoroughly to remove their natural irritants. If taro leaves are unavailable, mature spinach or Swiss chard makes a fine stand-in.

Recipe details

Prep15 min

Cook30 min

Servings4

CategoryFiji Kitchen

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Fijian Palusami

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💡 Chef tips & storage

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Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

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Fijian Palusami

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

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Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

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