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    Home / Lunch / Tongan Kapisi Pulu

    Tongan Kapisi Pulu

    Tongan kapisi pulu recipe: corned beef and cabbage baked in coconut cream until soft and sweet. A hearty, humble island comfort meal from the Tongan islands.

    ⏱ 15 minPrep time
    🔥 30 minCook time
    🍽 4Servings
    🏷 LunchCategory
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    Tongan Kapisi Pulu

    Kapisi pulu — literally ‘cabbage and corned beef’ — is Tongan home cooking at its most honest. Tinned corned beef, cabbage and onion are layered and baked, sometimes with coconut cream, until the cabbage turns sweet and the beef melts into it.

    It is warm, savoury and faintly sweet, the kind of dish that fills the house with a homely smell. Serve it over rice or with boiled taro for a satisfying lunch.

    Tonga recipes →

    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
    2. Layer half the cabbage and onion in the dish, then crumble over the corned beef.
    3. Top with the remaining cabbage and onion. Mix the coconut cream, soy sauce and pepper, and pour over everything.
    4. Dot with butter if using, cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
    5. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes more, until the cabbage is tender and the top is golden. Serve hot.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Bake it covered for most of the time so the cabbage steams soft and sweet. A splash more coconut cream before serving keeps it luscious.

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    Recipe details

    Prep15 min
    Cook30 min
    Servings4
    CategoryLunch
    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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