Fijian Fish in Coconut Milk (Ika Vakalolo)

Known as ika vakalolo in iTaukei, this gentle fish stew is one of the oldest recipes in the Fijian kitchen, made simply with the ingredients that have always been at hand: fresh reef fish, coconut milk, and lime. It is the dish grandmothers cook for children and the first thing served to guests in many coastal villages.

What makes it great: where a curry demands a spice rack, this stew needs almost nothing — just patient simmering until the coconut milk thickens and clings to the fish. The result is sweet, clean, and comforting, best eaten with taro, cassava, or a bowl of steamed rice.

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