If you love sushi this simple-to-make Tahitian poisson cru, or Polynesian ceviche, will become a firm favourite. Quick, easy and adaptable, as well as being packed with vegetables.
The foodie’s version of knowing someone by walking a mile in their shoes surely has to be sitting at their table and sharing their meal? One of the huge pleasures and most important part of travel for me is to (within reason) eat everything I am offered and to get to know the people and their country by sharing their food. All too often we go abroad, and stay in identikit resorts and hotels and eat the same as we would do at home. It really is such a shame, different cultures and countries have so much to offer, but all too often people are too timid to branch out with what they put onto their plates.
On my recent trip to Tahiti I learnt that there is so much more to the islands than azure tropical seas teaming with marine life, white sandy beaches with their pristine resorts and the iconic water bungalows. In the interior of the island are dense lush tropical forests, alive with stories, ancient villages and sacred sites. Think of a cross between Lost and Jurassic Park and you get an idea of the landscape and vegetation.
We took a trip in the Papenoo valley with Iaorana Tahiti Expeditions, owned by Teuai (Olivier) Lenoir, a real life superhero (he lifted a 115kg rock with ease, and literally ran up coconut tree) who has an infectious passion for Tahitian culture and the mana of the islands. Teuai is an accomplished athlete with his love of tuaro maohi or traditional Polynesian sports (including the rock lifting), a dancer, qualified mountain guide, he is also thoroughly personable and a delight to spend time with.
Having travelled by 4×4 into the mountains it was time to prepare lunch, a simple Tathian poisson cru – a Polynesian version of ceviche. The dish is endlessly adaptable, and so easy to make. I dined at some excellent top restaurants on the trip, but it is probably this simple bowl that will remain with me, and be recreated at home to transport me back. I ate bowls of this for breakfast each morning in the various hotels I stayed in, but of course the dish eaten outside was the best.
Firstly light a fire, and feed with coconut husks to help repel the mosquitos.
Take some fresh chopped tuna, which has been soaking in sea water, drain and place into a serving bowl.
Squeeze lime juice over the fish and mix to coat it. Add a handful of diced diced tomatoes.
Add a handful of diced green pepper, and then some peeled and deseeded cucumber.
Add some diced onion, and a grated carrot.
Mix well.
Now to prepare the coconuts.
Take a long sturdy stick and use a machete to whittle a point at each end, drive the stick into the ground and use the sharp point to remove the husk from the coconuts. Carefully crack the coconuts in half with the machete, drink the water, then grate the meat into a bowl.
Place the grated coconut meat into a mesh bag and squeeze the coconut milk out of it over the fish mixture.
Mix and then serve in the coconut shell with some steamed taro. Enjoy and let the mana embrace you.
If you love sushi this simple-to-make Tahitian poisson cru, or ceviche, will become a firm favourite. Quick, easy and adaptable, as well as being packed with vegetables.
- 2 tuna fillets - cut into 1cm cubes (or use salmon)
- 1 lime - juice
- handful chopped tomatoes
- handful green pepper (diced)
- handful cucumber (peeled and deseeded)
- handful onion (diced)
- handful carrot (finely grated)
- 1 cup coconut milk (ideally fresh)
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Place the fish into a bowl, and pour the lime juice over.
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Add all the other ingredients, and mix well.
Use salmon in place of the tuna, and mix up the vegetables. If I was making this again, I'd probably leave out the onion and add a few finely chopped chives.
Having eaten it was back to the jeeps for a quick drive.
Where we left the road onto a hidden path, and hiked for 20 minutes, up and down steep slopes, across rushing rivers until we reached this blissful spot.
Tours with Teuai with Ioarana Tahiti Exhibitions are from $59USD per person – not including the lunch. We were the guests of Tahiti Tourism and travelled via Paris with Air Tahiti Nui. Follow the conversation on social #EmbracedbyMana.
To say that this looks amazing is an understatement! I don’t think that it could get more fresh than this!
I think that the tuna were landed that morning and it was the freshest coconut milk you can have!
Oh my goodness, swoon! How did you not just spend the whole holiday gawping at that rather fine specimen of a man! Oh yes… the ceviche, that sounds rather fantastic too (but I’m totally scrolling back for another lingering look. Be still my heart!)
I can safely say that there is no one I’d rather be stranded in the jungle with….
Ua haere ani ‘oe i te fenua Tahiti. Na vai e haapii ia ‘oe te hamaniraa te maa Tahiti? A faaitoito noa!
I’ve been following you trip eagerly and just love this refreshing and healthy dish, just bursting with flavour:-)
Wow I do love a ceviche but honestly had no idea it was consumed in Tahiti! Delicious!
A poisson cru is very common all over Polynesia – I’ll be making this version at home.
This is a lovely looking Sushi! Tahitian foods are heavenly. Wish I could live forever in Tahiti! It would have been living in heaven just for the foods.
I’d go back in a flash and stay for a year.
This recipe sounds tasty! So different (for my taste), but I love trying new things! Bookmarked!
I love discovering something completely different which I like to eat.
What a feast for the eyes neve mind the taste buds! This is my ideal kind of food, so fresh and so beautifully presented! Thanks for sharing xx
It was amazing, best outdoor food I’ve had for a long while.
Such gorgeous pictures – that waterfall!! I love the idea of totally submersing yourself in the culture and living/eating like the locals.
The waterfall was amazing, so refreshing to swim in the pool under it.
WOW. I love ceviche, so I am now inspired not only to make this Tahitian version, but also to VISIT TAHITI.
Go to Tahiti – it is such a surprise when you are there, so much to see and do.
Wow the food looks amazing. I love tuna but never really know what to do with it! The man looks pretty good too!! :)
I love raw fish so much, it needs to be good quality but is so tasty. Watching the chef prepare the meal was a real treat.
I am really into fresh tuna recently, may just give to give this a whirl!
Go for it!
Bet this is tasty. I love fresh tuna :)
It was so good. I cannot wait to make it again at home.
This looks incredible, I am drawn to the bright colours and anything which includes coconut milk I am bound to enjoy.
I adore coconut milk too, freshly squeezed is a whole other level of deliciousness.
Oh wow this looks amazing, such gorgeous photos!
Thank you. It was am amazing trip.
I love how fresh it looks and it is great that you got to capture photos of the local culture as well. Breathtaking x
It was fantastic, I think that food eaten outdoors is so much nicer.
That tuna looked devine, as does the surroundings. What a beautiful country!
Tahiti is amazing, I had no idea about the mountains and that lush forest.
I’ve had ceviche before but nothing like this version. What a beautiful country, your photos are amazing
I know, isn’t is lovely dish I’ll be making it at home.
You’re right you do learn a lot about different cultures by eating the food that they eat. Looks like a lovely authentic dish x
The food is one of the best parts of travel for me, I look forward a different cuisine so much.
What an amazing dish – and the great news is that it would work well with my slimming world! ;-) Thanks very much for this!
Yes, and as it is full of protein it is really filling too.
Wow, Helen, look like you had a fantastic time! So exciting to have ceviche fresh like that!
It was amazingly fresh, and the setting we ate it in was just awesome.
I LOVEEEEE ceviche, but have never made it myself. I think I’m going to try and recreate this dish, this weekend for super bowl Sunday. Your trip looks amazing BTW.
I will be making this dish all the time now. It is so good.
That looks sensational. I love seeing the step by step pictures on how it was prepared. Jo x
It was amazing, but I think that both the setting and the chef helped!
Teuai sounds like a brilliant guide! I love the sound of this dish, anything coconut is right up my street :)
He was just amazing, I’d love to spend another day on one of his tours.
What a stunning place to visit, so much culture to take in. I don’t think I’d be brave enough to try the sushi but my husband likes the look of it.
I find raw fish so good. Maybe start off with just a little?
I do love sushi! I’m a terrible cook but I think I could manage this one!
not much cooking at all here! Just the chopping.
My goodness that man looks like something out of a film. The food looks pretty good too lol x
Both were absolutely lovely!
Wow, I bet that smelled amazing as well as tasting delicious
the fresh coconut was so good.
What a gorgeous dish the mix of flavours must make it taste incredible. I would love to try this for myself.
It was so good, satisfying but also quite light. Easy to make at home too.
What a fantastic trip! This dish looks amazing and I love the photos too!!
Thanks Alida, it was a dream trip.