🇵🇬 Papua New Guinean Cuisine

Banana Laplap

Banana and Coconut Bake

Prep Time 30 min
Servings 6
Difficulty Medium
Calories 294 kcal

Grated unripe banana mixed with coconut cream, wrapped tightly in banana leaves and baked in hot coals until firm and slightly caramelized. A traditional Melanesian staple shared across PNG's island communities.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1 Peel green bananas and grate them finely using a traditional grater or box grater.
  2. 2 Mix grated banana with coconut cream and salt to form a thick paste.
  3. 3 Soften banana leaves over a flame until pliable.
  4. 4 Spread banana mixture about 2cm thick onto a large banana leaf.
  5. 5 Fold leaf edges over to create a sealed parcel.
  6. 6 Place on hot coals or bake in a 180C oven for 50-60 minutes until firm.
  7. 7 Unwrap and slice into portions. Serve warm.

Did You Know?

Laplap is also the national dish of Vanuatu, reflecting the shared Melanesian food culture across the southwest Pacific islands.