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
Equipment Needed
Presentation Guide
Vessel: woven pandanus plate
Garnishes: none
Accompaniments: fish in coconut cream, fresh coconut
Instructions
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1
Select a ripe breadfruit that gives slightly when pressed. Peel the thick green skin with a sharp knife.
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2
Cut the peeled breadfruit into quarters and remove the spongy core from each piece.
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3
Place quarters in a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil over high heat.
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4
Reduce to medium and boil for twenty to twenty-five minutes until a fork slides easily into the flesh.
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5
Drain and let cool slightly before slicing into thick rounds or wedges.
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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.
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