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Aibika in coconut milk
Papua New Guinea greens cooked in coconut milk
Aibika, a tall leafy hibiscus grown in almost every garden in Papua New Guinea, is the country's most important green vegetable, cooked daily from the Highlands to Port Moresby. The large leaves are slightly slippery like okra and turn silky and rich when simmered in coconut milk with onion. Serve with kaukau, taro or rice. Outside PNG, spinach, Chinese spinach or taro leaves cooked well can stand in. A common mistake is overcooking, which turns the leaves slimy; a few minutes is enough. Chef's tip: shred the leaves into ribbons so they cook evenly.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz aibika leavesor spinach, washed and shredded
- 1 ¼ cups coconut milk
- 1 onionsliced
- 1 clove garlicchopped
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 chilli (optional)sliced
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Simmer 1 ¼ cups coconut milk with 1 onion, 1 clove garlic and 1 chilli for 4 minutes until the onion softens.
4 minStep 2: Add 14 oz aibika leaves and ½ tsp salt, stir and simmer for 4–5 minutes until the leaves are wilted and tender but still green.
5 minStep 3: Serve hot with kaukau, taro or rice.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 160 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 7 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does aibika in coconut milk take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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