Wallis and Futuna Islands (Oceania) 13 June 2021

Wallis and Futuna are located in the continent of Oceania/Australia. It has Tuvalu to the north, Samoa to the east, Tonga to the southeast, Fiji to the south, Vanuatu to the southwest, and the Solomon Islands to the northwest.

The capital is Matâ’utu.

The official languages are Polynesian and French.

The climate is tropical with high humidity. They have two distinct seasons. The hot and rainy period is from November to March and the dry and cooler is from April to October. The staples are cassava, taro, sweet potatoes, yams, breadfruit, bread, fish, chicken and pork, bananas, coconuts, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, citrus fruits and much, much more (https://worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=WallisFutuna#:~:text=Staple%20foods%20in%20Wallis%20and,and%20pork%20on%20special%20occasions).

https://www.britannica.com/place/Wallis-and-Futuna

WALLISIAN FRIED FISH (https://howtoeatasmallplanet.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/wallis-and-futuna/):

• 2 lbs barramundi fillets (substitute sea bass or halibut)
• ½ C flour
• 1 TBSP curry powder
• 1-1/2 C coconut milk
• 2 TBSP oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ lemon

1. Combine flour with curry powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Cut fillets into bite sized pieces.
3. Dip fish in coconut milk then dredge in flour mixture.
4. Heat oil in a saute pan over medium high heat.
5. Pan fry fish until golden.
6. Add the remaining coconut milk to pan and reduce heat to low.
7. Simmer until slightly thickened.
8. Squeeze lemon juice over and serve.

FUTUNAN SWEET POTATOES (https://howtoeatasmallplanet.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/wallis-and-futuna/):

• 5-6 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1” chunks
• 1 large onion, diced small
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ tsp fresh ginger, minced
• 3 eggs, hardboiled and diced small
• 1 C coconut milk
• 1 TBSP oil

1. Fill a large pot with sweet potatoes and water and boil for 15-20 minutes until sweet potatoes are easily pierced by a fork but not mushy. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat and saute onions.
3. Add sweet potatoes, coconut milk, and boiled eggs.
4. Cook until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove from heat and serve.

FUTUNAN STUFFED BANANAS (https://howtoeatasmallplanet.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/wallis-and-futuna/):

• 6 green bananas, unpeeled
• 9 oz ground beef
• 1 onion, diced fine
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Salt and pepper
• Banana leaves (optional)

1. In saute pan, brown ground beef and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350F.
3. Slice bananas in half lengthwise and carefully remove flesh without breaking the peel.
4. In a large bowl, mash the banana flesh and then mix in the meat, egg, and onion, adding salt and pepper to taste.
5. Stuff the peels with the beef mixture and wrap in banana leaves (use parchment paper as a substitute).
6. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until hot throughout.

COCONUT CARDAMOM POPSICLES (https://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/coconut-cardamom-popsicles/):

• One 14 oz can full-fat coconut milk, unsweetened
• 2 bananas, peeled and frozen
• 1/3 C coconut water
• ¼ C honey
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 3 TBSP chia seeds

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until creamy and smooth.
2. Pour the blended mixture into popsicle molds and freeze until firm and completely frozen.
3. Enjoy!!