Tuvalu

 Welcome to Tuvalu!  It is the fourth smallest country in the world, in the South Pacific.  Also, fun fact, it is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia!  According to Google, the population is 11,508 and the capital is Funafuti.  Also, the highest point on the island is 15 feet above sea level.  From all the pictures, it looks beautiful and blue, but I don't think I'd like to live there.  Their official food is...

 

 

Pulaka!

If you're like me, I didn't know what this was.  When researching, I found that it was a specific taro-like starch that grows everywhere on the island.  I looked in several stores here, and couldn't find something even close.  So, back to the drawing board.  In looking up information about Tuvalu, I found that fish are everywhere, and that fish is a staple in their diet.  Fish - I can do that!  I found a recipe for Tuvalu Tuna.  Disclaimer: I have no idea how authentic this recipe is, or if it is using ingredients they use.  But it sounded good, and I thought I would give it a try.  Here's what I did:

TUVALU TUNA

2 Tuna Steaks

2 tbsp Avocado Oil

1 Onion, chopped

8 Small Garlic Cloves, chopped

1 inch Ginger, chopped

1 tbsp Curry Powder

1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

4 Green Onions, chopped

3 handfuls Snap Peas

1 can Coconut Milk

1.  Heat avocado oil in pan.  Add chopped onion and saute.
2. Add garlic and ginger, and saute more.
3. Add curry powder and red pepper flakes, and saute more.
4. Add green onions, snap peas, tuna and coconut milk to pan, and simmer until tuna is cooked through.
5. Serve over white rice.

 

 

 (Source:  http://foodsoftheworld-emmajackson.blogspot.com/2015/07/tuvalu-coconut-tuna.html)

 

This was a very easy meal to make.  Seriously so easy.  We thought it needed salt (there was nothing in the ingredients about adding salt!) so added some once it was on our plate.  In looking back at the original recipe, it listed soy sauce as an ingredient, but there was no where in the instructions that the soy sauce was added...that would have helped with the salt!  Handsome Husband liked the meal.  I thought it was OK.  We both thought that it would be good with pork or chicken as well.

So the rating.  We are both going to rate the dishes on a scale of 1-10.

ME
Taste of Tuvalu Tuna (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 5

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 5

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 5

HANDSOME HUSBAND
Taste of Tuvalu Tuna (1 is terrible, 10 is amazing): 7

Spicy (hot) (1 is not at all spicy, 10 is uneatable): 6

Flavor (1 is no flavor, 10 is packed with flavor): 7

So there you have it!  Tuvalu can be checked off the list.  I talked with the Amazing Aunt this week, and she suggested we do Belgium next.  So, we will be off to Belgium!