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    Home / Dinner / Tahitian Ma’a Tinito

    Tahitian Ma’a Tinito

    Tahitian ma’a tinito recipe: pork belly stir-fried with beansprouts and cabbage in gingery soy sauce. A beloved Chinese-influenced Tahitian island classic.

    ⏱ 15 minPrep time
    🔥 30 minCook time
    🍽 4Servings
    🏷 DinnerCategory
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    Tahitian Ma'a Tinito

    Ma’a tinito — literally ‘Chinese food’ — is a Tahitian institution, born from the Chinese community that settled in French Polynesia over a century ago. Pork belly, cabbage and beansprouts are stir-fried with garlic, ginger and soy into a glossy, savoury family dish.

    It is salty, crunchy and satisfying, with tender pork and crisp vegetables in a sauce that begs for steamed rice. Every Tahitian family has a version, often with Chinese noodles folded in.

    Tahiti recipes →

    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Toss the pork with half the soy sauce; set aside for 10 minutes.
    2. Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. Stir-fry the pork until browned and cooked through; remove.
    3. Add the garlic and ginger; stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the cabbage and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until just tender.
    4. Return the pork with the remaining soy sauce and the oyster sauce. Toss well.
    5. Add the beansprouts and green onions; toss for 1 minute more. Serve hot over rice.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Work in batches if your wok is small — crowding steams the pork instead of browning it. Add a handful of soaked Chinese noodles in step 4 for the classic Tahitian-style version.

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    Recipe details

    Prep15 min
    Cook30 min
    Servings4
    CategoryDinner
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    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 →

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