Boiled Breadfruit

Boiled Breadfruit

Te mai (teh MY)

Plain Boiled Breadfruit

Prep Time 30 min
📈 Difficulty Easy
👥 Servings
4
🔥 Calories 229 kcal

Ripe breadfruit peeled and boiled until tender, then served as the primary starch alongside fish dishes. The foundation of every I-Kiribati meal.

Nutrition & Info

220 kcal per serving
Protein 3.0g
Carbs 52.0g
Fat 1.0g
Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

nut-free

Equipment Needed

large pot knife cutting board

Presentation Guide

Vessel: woven pandanus plate

Garnishes: none

Accompaniments: fish in coconut cream, fresh coconut

Instructions

  1. 1

    Select a ripe breadfruit that gives slightly when pressed. Peel the thick green skin with a sharp knife.

  2. 2

    Cut the peeled breadfruit into quarters and remove the spongy core from each piece.

  3. 3

    Place quarters in a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil over high heat.

  4. 4

    Reduce to medium and boil for twenty to twenty-five minutes until a fork slides easily into the flesh.

  5. 5

    Drain and let cool slightly before slicing into thick rounds or wedges.

  6. 6

    Serve warm alongside fish and coconut cream dishes as the starchy base of the meal.

💡

Did You Know?

A single breadfruit tree can produce up to 200 fruits per year, making it one of the most productive food sources on Kiribati atolls.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

  • large pot
  • knife
  • cutting board

Garnishing

none

Accompaniments

fish in coconut cream, fresh coconut

The Story Behind Boiled Breadfruit

Breadfruit has been cultivated across the Pacific for over three thousand years and remains the single most important starch in I-Kiribati cooking. On atolls where soil is thin and nutrient-poor, breadfruit trees thrive in conditions that defeat most crops. Early Micronesian settlers deliberately carried breadfruit cuttings as they migrated across the Pacific, recognizing its unmatched reliability as a food source in the challenging atoll environment.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed daily staple at all meals 📜 Origins: Ancient Oceanian

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