Faiai Eleni

Faiai Eleni is essentially fish in coconut cream and served in coconut shells. The dish is popular in Samoa and Tahiti. Traditionally, people use mackerel to prepare this famous main-course and typically cook it in coconut shells. They also add cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes to the already flavorful dish, apart from the new taste of coconut cream and the fish.

Faiai eleni is one of those dishes that divides opinion, and not because of its flavour. There are those who insist faiai eleni uses raw fish rather like oka, while others are certain that the dish should either be cooked using the umu, or in an oven.

The dish is often served with baked taro, resulting in a filling traditional Samoan meal.