coconut, yucca and papaya Pudding

                                                                                Receta en Español

In Federated states of Micronesia there is not a culture of desserts and sweets, they use grated coconut or coconut milk together with a tuber like yuca, batata or breadfruit adding some cane sugar.

The recipe I present today is a pudding made of a mixture of coconut,yuca and papaya.

Ingredients (baking sheet 17x25 cm):

-  300 grams grated coconut.
-  600 grams of boiled yucca.
-  300 grams papaya meat.
-  180 grams brown or cane sugar.

-  2 eggs.

Method:

1- Peel and cut in pieces the yucca. Put in a casserole with some water, put on a high heat until it reaches boiling point, then cook at medium heat for 10 minutes.

The central root of the yucca can be removed before or after being cooked, after being cooked it is easier to remove.

2- Cut the papaya in pieces, put it in a bowl.

3- Add yucca, crush yucca and papaya with a fork , mix well.

4- Add grated coconut and mix well.

4- Add sugar, whisk eggs and mix well.

5- Once everything is well mixed, place in an oiled oven proof recipient.

Flatten to make the surface even.

6- Preheat oven at 200ºC, cook for 30 minutes at the same temperature ,heat over and below. 

7- Let get cold and cut into little pieces.

My Comments to the Recipe

It is very easy to prepare, it tastes a lot to coconut with little touches of papaya and yucca.

It is a healthy dessert.

Where to find the ingredients

Here you can find where to buy the yuca: http://viaja-en-mi-cocina.blogspot.com/2014/06/yuca-o-mandioca.html

Federated states of Micronesia

Kosrae soup (thon,banana,coconut milk soup)

                                                                       Receta en Español

Kosrae is one of the most important islands at Federated States of Micronesia, it has an extension of 110 sq Km. This is a paradisiac island full of unspoiled and exuberant nature, with coral lagoons and beautiful landscapes.

Eating soup is something cultural in this island, every sunday they cook a fish soup to eat together with the family and church members.It is also consumed at weddings and funerals. A soup is much more than a dish, it is something spiritual.

The recipe that I present today is one of the most typical in the island,it is made from thon,banana and coconut milk.

Other typical ingredients for a soup are  breadfruit tree or rice.

Ingredients (4 people):

-  2 plantains (between green and yellow).
-  1 onion.
-  500 grams thon.
-  400 ml coconut milk.
-  Salt.
-  Ground black pepper.

Method:

1- Cook thon in some water with a pinch of salt, until the meat changes its colour, it does not take a lot of time.

2- Crumble the thon and reserve. Reserve the broth too.

3- Peel and grate plantains, choose a plantain between green and yellow.

4- Put the broth in a casserole, together with the thon, grated plantain, chopped onion and salt.

Add coconut milk and a pinch of ground pepper.

5- Stir well, let it cook at medium heat. Stir often because plantain tends to burn when it sticks to the bottom of the casserole.

Cook for 20-30 minutes. It looks like a purée.

6- You can accompany with some cooked yucca or taro.

My comments to the Recipe

It is a soup which consistency is a little thick, like a purée. You cannot avoid eating it with pepper, it helps a lot to enhance the taste of the dish. The mixture of thon and plantain is good , although it could seem a little bizarre to european palates.

I found this recipe at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZiFQjJtCiw&list=PLs0kBozg__x5EwRZwEhhRp6KABQlhP8we

Federated States of Micronesia