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Port Vila (Vanuatu)
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Main course
Vegan
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
300kcal
5gProtein
58gCarbs
12gFat
10gFibre
400 gServing
* Per serving · 400 g. May vary.
Lap Lap
How to order / say it
Say it
Lap Lap — [Lap-Lap]
Order
I'll have the Lap Lap, please.
Locally
Mi wantem Lap Lap plis.
Say locally
Traditional root vegetables cooked in coconut cream.
Why try it?
Lap Lap is a staple in Port Vila and across Vanuatu, embodying the islanders' connection to land and their reliance on local, natural produce.
How it tastes
This dish has a creamy, slightly sweet, and mild coconut flavor, with a soft and chewy texture from the cooked roots.
Origin & History — first documented: 1847
Originating centuries ago as a significant ceremonial dish, Lap Lap represents communal life in Vanuatu. It became central in everyday meals in Port Vila during the colonial era when local ingredients were heavily utilized.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🥕 500 g Taro
- 🥕 300 g Yam
- 🥛 200 ml Coconut cream
- 🥕 5 Banana leaves
- 🧂 1 teaspoon Salt
- 🧂 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
Method
- 1 Peel and grate taro and yam then mix with salt.
- 2 Wrap the mixture in banana leaves, then pour coconut cream over the top.
- 3 Bake the wrapped package until fully cooked and aromatic.
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© Wikimedia Commons
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Drink
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Nakamal Kava
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A mildly narcotic drink made from kava roots.