A couple years ago, we took a trip to Tahiti as the flights from Seattle to Papeete were direct (9 hours) and very inexpensive on a Air Tahiti Nui's new 787's. We actually spent less going to Tahiti than we did for a week in Hawaii. Tahiti is part of French Polynesia, and there is so much French heritage, food and wine there. You don't think of eating stinky French cheeses, a freshly baked baguette and wonderful French wine in the tropics, do you? Yes, but you certainly can. This recipe is Tahiti's version of poke, or seviche. Similar dishes available in other countries, but we really, really loved this! We ate it over jasmine rice, with loads of local fruits at a picnic shelter on a beach on the island of Moorea. Moorea is about an hour ferry boat ride from Papeete, so its an easy way to see a very lush and naturally beautiful island. We did a small group tour of the island, just 8 of us in the back of a bus/jeep. We did a grand tour of the island, a waterfall hike, some fruit markets and bakeries to shop for our lunch and then lunch at the beach. They also sell a wonderful rum punch, already mixed, and sold like orange juice which was pretty fantastic too.
Serves about 6-8
Ingredients
2lbs white fish, chopped into cubes
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup carrots, cut into thin matchsticks or shreds
1/2 cup cucumber, cut into thin matchsticks or shreds
1/2 cup thin sliced red cabbage
1/2 cup onion (red or white), cut into thin matchsticks or shreds
1/4 cup green onions, sliced thinly on the diagonal
Salt and Pepper to taste
I'm going to keep the instructions simple, cut fish into small bite size portions, add everything else and mix. Let chill for about 10-15 minutes and serve at once, on rice, or just on the side.
Here's a picture of our guide making the poisson cru at the beach. Okay, he is super darling and fit, right?
He was our tour guide for a great tour of the island, plus he had everything planned for our lunch for 8 people. His friend had caught the tuna the day before and he had brined it is sea water. We stopped for fresh fruit, local candy and some great rum fruit juice cocktails that they sell pre-mixed in Tahiti.
It was a fun and different lunch that tasted delicious!
His attention to detail was amazing, displaying the fruit on fronds from a palm tree. Fruit platter is below and also the strange local candy, called po'e, that is made with fruit, starch and coconut milk. Pineapple, grapefruit, mini bananas and papaya all came from local fruit trees.
Here's another meal in Tahiti; this one was at the hotel pool... where we rented a cabana to wait for our late evening flight to SEA. What a wonderful way to go! I am having poisson cru again below... My husband is having his favorite French dish, Steak Frites!
Tahiti was so beautiful!
