Koahp sukusuk using koahpen Palau. Presented by Tyson, LA, and Dexter. Pounded yam with coconut milk.
Koahp sukusuk using koahpen Palau. Presented by Tyson, LA, and Dexter. Pounded yam with coconut milk.
Growing large yams requires skill and effort. As a result, yams are a prestige food. A measure of the skills of a man.
Fifi
Fifi is akin to a soup, but served at room temperature, or, if possible, chilled. Combining starch and protein, fifi resembles a modern energy drink. Fifi is typically served when the men of the outer islands are working on a project together. Fifi is lunch. Being a liquid base, fifi provides both energy and liquids to the work team. There are different variations on the theme. Roxycindlina presented a Ulithian form of Fifi containing boiled green papaya, leaves of the sweet potato, and coconut milk. Mayleen presented a variant without the sweet potato leaves.
| Ulithian | Houkese | English |
|---|---|---|
| fifi | fiafi | Soup name |
| chofar | rhofer | copra meat |
| babay | pwapwai | papaya |
| kamoti | kamoti | cooked leaf of the sweet potato |
| yaroeng | arung | coconut milk |
Modern substitutions include condensed milk or sugar. The name "fifi" is based on the word "to squeeze"
Kehp neir: Boiled grated yam
Cassandra and Yuleen seen above, along with Norma and MeloJane, presented kehp neir.
Mwahng uter presented by Aleen and MaryHellan.
Taro balls are a personal favorite of mine. Hard taro is boiled and grated. Then the taro is loose mixed with copra from a coconut. The balls are formed by hand, usually when the mixture is still warm. Sugar is often added. This is a favorite treat for Kosraens and Pohnpeians alike, especially children. As one student who was tasting taro balls for the first noted, "I really like this!"
Tracy, Tesiann, Krystal enjoying new foods.
Kehp neir and mwahng uter
Ush amad
Judy and Joe-ann presented Mortlockese ush amad, ground boiled banana. The consistency was smoother than the uht idihd of Pohnpei and the ap of Kosrae. Ush amad is the same process, but either the variety of banana differs, the grinding process is a finer grind, or the cooking process is different. The Houkese call this urh amaat, while in Chuuk the dish is called fouren uch. In Ulithi this is called mwar. Ush amad was wrapped in banana leaves. A modern adaptation is to wrap the banana in aluminum foil.
Kehp piahia with chicken
Christopher and Maybeleen presented yams with local chicken and coconut milk (piahia). Local chicken is a special treat.
Christopher, Maybeleen
Marla Ongesel
Billib
Billib is a Palauan specialty. Inside the coconut frondlet packet is tapioca (manioc, cassava). The youngest leaf of the coconut tree is used to make this visual delight.
Billib
Marla explains the process for making billib.
Tracy Narruhn shows off cooked tapioca covered in coconut milk.
Redeemer, Tesiann, Tracy, Krystal, and Daniel presented Chuukese mwatunun mwoniok.
Mwatunun mwoniok
My thanks to the students for the special day!