Culinary Explorer
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Alaisa Faʻapopo (Sāmoan Coconut Rice)
Created by Chef Makoa
Sāmoa's morning coconut rice, salted and soft, with fresh peʻepeʻe folded through until every grain shines, served beside Koko Sāmoa for children, elders, new mothers, and anyone needing building up.
An auntie in Sāmoa once put a tin bowl in my hands before she gave me any story. Eat first, talk after. That bowl was alaisa faʻapopo, alaisa meaning rice and faʻapopo carrying the coconut, hot salted rice softened with peʻepeʻe, fresh coconut cream, until it fed like comfort and medicine both.
Ingredients
medium-grain or long-grain white rice (alaisa)
Quantity
2 cups
rinsed
water
Quantity
4 cups, plus 1/2 to 1 cup
extra water kept hot for loosening
fine sea salt
Quantity
1 1/4 teaspoons
plus more to taste
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| medium-grain or long-grain white rice (alaisa)rinsed | 2 cups |
| waterextra water kept hot for loosening | 4 cups, plus 1/2 to 1 cup |
| fine sea saltplus more to taste | 1 1/4 teaspoons |
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