Back

Coconut Kau Kau

Simply irresistible...

Serves

4

Prep time

30 minutes

Cook time

1 hour 20 minutes

Sweet potato, known locally as kau kau, is a staple of the local diet. This classic dish would traditionally have been made on an open fire, but you can get a similar, great taste from an oven…

Ingredients

1 sweet potato (medium), per person
3 tbsps grated fresh coconut
200ml coconut milk
2 tbsps orange juice
garlic cloves, crushed 
1 tbsp ginger, peeled and grated 
1/2  red onion, finely chopped 
salt and pepper, to taste 

Method

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6. 
  2. Rinse the sweet potatoes, then wrap individually in foil. Bake for 1 hour or until cooked through.
  3. While you wait, combine the fresh grated coconut, coconut milk, orange juice, onion, garlic and ginger in a bowl, mix well.
  4. Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and cut lengthways.
  5. Scoop out 3/4 of the sweet potato into a bowl. Immediately add the butter, salt and pepper and mash with a fork until you get a smooth purée.
  6. Add the purée to your pre-prepared coconut mix. Stir thoroughly, then fill the hollowed half sweet potatoes with the mashed mixture.
  7. Bake in the oven for another 5-10 minutes until you have crispy skins.

Chef’s tips

Add more coconut milk if you can’t get hold of a fresh coconut!

Back
Help Provide Meals & Cooking Classes this Winter

Help our Community Cookery School team provide 5,000 additional meals and cookery classes in warm hubs this winter!