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Supo esi
Supo esi: warm Samoan papaya and coconut cream soup for breakfast
In Samoan villages a big pot of supo esi is a Sunday and everyday breakfast: ripe papaya simmered soft, thickened with tapioca or arrowroot, and enriched with fresh coconut cream (pe'epe'e), served warm with buttered bread or panikeke. It is sweet, silky and tropical, like a warm fruit pudding you drink. The common mistake is boiling it after the coconut cream goes in, which splits the cream into an oily film; add it at the end and only warm through. Chef's tip: a squeeze of lime at the end wakes up the papaya and stops it tasting flat.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ripe papayaabout 900 g, peeled, seeded and cubed
- 2 ½ cups water
- 3 tbsp sugaror to taste
- 2 tbsp tapioca starch or arrowroot
- 4 tbsp cold water
- ¾ cup coconut cream
- ½ limejuiced
- 1 pinch salt
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Simmer 1 ripe papaya in 2 ½ cups water with 3 tbsp sugar and 1 pinch salt for 10 minutes, until very soft. Mash roughly with a potato masher.
10 minStep 2: Mix 2 tbsp tapioca starch or arrowroot with 4 tbsp cold water until smooth, then stir into the simmering soup. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring, until it thickens and turns glossy and translucent.
4 minStep 3: Lower the heat to very low, stir in ¾ cup coconut cream and warm for 2 minutes without boiling.
2 minStep 4: Stir in ½ lime and serve warm in bowls.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does supo esi take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- 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 sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lime?
- Lemon, same amount.
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