Tongan Cuisine

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Overview of Tongan Cuisine History
Tongan cuisine is a combination of French, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, German, and Italian cuisine. Traditional Tongan fare include many dishes such as steamed pork, fish, and crayfish, octopus, suckling pig, and tropical fruits. It is considered that this region has been inhabited since the 5th century BC. Many restaurants in Tonga often serve foods originating from Taiwanese, German, Italian and, Japanese cuisine. Most delicious and popular dishes are based on ‘ufi or large white yam, taro; meat and onions, marinated in coconut milk and baked in taro leaves; feke (octopus or squid) grilled in coconut sauce; devilled clams; ‘ota ika (raw fish) marinated in lemon juice; tropical fruits, lobster, and all types of salads.

Cuisines of Tonga


Tongan cuisine, being influenced by many other cuisines, is a very rich one. Some of these influences come from Taiwan, Japan, China, Germany, Italy, or France. Most of the Tongan foods consist of meat, coconut and coconut milk or sauce, taro leaves, fish marinated in lemon sauce, lobster, Chicken, Crayfish, suckling pig, Octopus, Pork, fresh vegetables and fruits. In many Tongan restaurants, besides traditional dishes, tourists can serve exotic international dishes which have been influenced by cuisines of Korea, China, Japan, German, Italy, India and France. Pork, Chicken and fish are the most common Tongan meats, while vegetables include tomatoes, cabbage, onions, pumpkins, carrots, potatoes, and spinach. Traditional food is cooked in an underground oven called umu.

Preparation Methods for Tongan Cooking
Tongan cuisine uses elements from various cooking traditions borrowed from their neighbours and developed from their own traditional dishes. While there are no specific or unique preparation methods for Tongan cooking, we should point out that attention to detail is important in the Tongan cuisine. Using the right amount of spices for example is essential - either for spicing up the taste or for coloring the dish. The diversity of vegetables and cereals found in Tonga is also noticed in the delicious dishes belonging to their cuisine. The visual attractiveness of the dish is also important, and a balance between colors and proportion differentiates. Each traditional dish has a special cooking method, which is more or less general in all of Tonga's regions. Meat is one of the main elements of most Tongan dishes and cured and smoked hams are often parts of delicious dishes.

Special Equipment for Tongan Cooking
Ranging from cake pans, can openers, colanders, egg rings, poachers and holders, food dishers & portioners, food pans & food containers to other kitchen utensils, such as food scales, food scoops and fryer baskets & accessories, the Tongan cuisine needs a diverse cooking equipment set in order to produce the most sophisticated Tongan dishes. You should consider insulated food carriers if you are transporting the food and a full set of kitchen linens and uniforms if you wish to look like a pro. Here are a few other items that will come handy while cooking Tongan food: juicers, kitchen knives, kitchen slicers, kitchen thermometers, measuring cups & measuring spoons, miscellaneous utensils, mixing bowls and skimmers & strainers. Essential utensils like serving spoons, spatulas, forks, turners, scrapers and tongs should also be part of your cooking "arsenal".

Tongan Food Traditions and Festivals
During special celebration, most of the Tongan people eat common meats like fish, Chicken or Pork, roasted pig, and different combinations of vegetables like carrots, potatoes, spinach, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and pumpkins. On special occasions local inhabitants cook ‘ufi or large white cream, taro, onions and meat marinated in coconut milk and baked in taro leaves, feke or grilled Octopus or Squid in coconut sauce, ‘ota or raw fish marinated in lemon juice, devilled clams, lobster, tropical fruit and vegetable salad, Chicken, Crayfish, and Octopus. One of the most popular Tongan festivals is represented by heilala festival week when Tongan people gather to eat many delicacies, to sing and dance, and to share their happiness.

People in Tongan Food

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There are many chefs who creatively use the basic ingredients and cooking method for traditional Tongan dishes and create original and delicious food variations. Tongan chefs are passionate about their traditional dishes and they enjoy presenting them to foreigners who have never tasted them before. Whether they are cooking dishes that go back in time for centuries or brand new, modern dishes, Tongan chefs take pride in what they do, and this is readily noticeable in the unforgettable taste of their cooking.