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Lu pulu
Tongan taro-leaf parcels of corned beef, onion and coconut cream
Lu pulu is a Sunday dish in Tonga, cooked in the umu (earth oven) after church in Nuku'alofa and by Tongan families in Auckland and Sydney: taro leaves are layered into a cup, filled with corned beef, onion and thick coconut cream, wrapped in foil or banana leaf and baked until the leaves melt into a rich, silky parcel. It is served with boiled taro, yam or sweet potato. The mistake is undercooking the taro leaves: they must cook for at least an hour, as raw taro leaves irritate the mouth and throat. Chef's tip: if you can't find taro leaves, use large spinach or silverbeet leaves, cooked for 45 minutes.
- Total time
- 115 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F. Tear 6 squares of 1 roll of foil about 30 cm wide.
Step 2: On each square, layer 6 36 taro leaves, shiny side down, overlapping like a flower, to make a cup.
Step 3: Mix 1 ½ lb tinned corned beef with 1 onion and divide it between the leaf cups. Pour about 60 ml of 1 ¾ cups coconut cream over each and sprinkle with a little ½ tsp salt.
Step 4: Fold the leaves over the filling, then wrap the foil tightly round each parcel so no liquid escapes. Put them on a tray.
Step 5: Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes, until the leaves are completely soft and dark and the filling is bubbling and piping hot.
90 minStep 6: Rest for 5 minutes, open carefully (hot steam) and serve with boiled taro, yam or sweet potato.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 22 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 40 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lu pulu take?
- About 115 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 90 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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