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Banana Gingerbread adds another useful Hawaiʻi and Pacific-inspired recipe to the archive, built from source-backed ingredients and simple home-cooking steps. It helps round out the site with a practical dish readers can make beside the traditional coconut, taro, breadfruit, and seafood recipes already collected here.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try Pacific recipe gallery.

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter softened
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 tbsp sour cream
• ⅓ cup banana, mashed
• 1 tsp tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups apples, cored and chopped
• ½ cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9"x 5" loaf pan.
2. Cream butter and sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in sour cream, mashed banana and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Gradually add to butter mixture. Gently fold in apples and walnuts.
4. Spoon mixture into loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Make sure loaf is baked through.

Helpful Tips

• Prepare the ½ cup butter softened before you start so the recipe moves smoothly.
• Taste and adjust seasoning or sweetness near the end, especially when fruit ripeness varies.

FAQ

Is banana gingerbread a traditional recipe?

This page is written from a Hawaiʻi Nutrition Center recipe source and is framed as a Hawaiʻi or Pacific-inspired home recipe rather than a claim about every island tradition.

Can I make substitutions?

Yes. Keep the core ingredient style, then adjust fruit, greens, protein, or seasoning based on what is fresh and available.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Calories	2969 kcal
Fat	223 g
Saturated Fat	73.1 g
Carbohydrates	718.9 g
Protein	106.8 g
Sodium	2337.3 mg
Cholesterol	1049.7 mg

Healthy Apple-Banana Orange Whip adds another useful Hawaiʻi and Pacific-inspired recipe to the archive, built from source-backed ingredients and simple home-cooking steps. It helps round out the site with a practical dish readers can make beside the traditional coconut, taro, breadfruit, and seafood recipes already collected here.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try Pacific recipe gallery.

Ingredients

• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup apple banana, ripe
• 2 cups milk, non-fat
• 2 tsp honey (optional)
• 2 cups crushed ice

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until frothy.

Helpful Tips

• Prepare the 2 cups orange juice before you start so the recipe moves smoothly.
• Taste and adjust seasoning or sweetness near the end, especially when fruit ripeness varies.

FAQ

Is healthy apple-banana orange whip a traditional recipe?

This page is written from a Hawaiʻi Nutrition Center recipe source and is framed as a Hawaiʻi or Pacific-inspired home recipe rather than a claim about every island tradition.

Can I make substitutions?

Yes. Keep the core ingredient style, then adjust fruit, greens, protein, or seasoning based on what is fresh and available.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Serving Size	1.5 cups
Calories	81 kcal
Carbohydrates	17 g
Fiber	1 g
Protein	3 g
Sodium	32 mg
Cholesterol	1.45 mg

Orange Panacotta with Fresh Papaya adds another useful Hawaiʻi and Pacific-inspired recipe to the archive, built from source-backed ingredients and simple home-cooking steps. It helps round out the site with a practical dish readers can make beside the traditional coconut, taro, breadfruit, and seafood recipes already collected here.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try Pacific recipe gallery.

Ingredients

• 4 sheets Fillo (phyllo) dough, Athens brand
• 2 tbsp Margarine
• 1 tbsp Raw cane sugar
• 1½ cups Non-fat cottage cheese
• ½ cup Low-fat cream cheese
• 1 cup Low-fat yogurt
• 1 tsp Lemon zest
• 2 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1 tsp Lemon flavor (optional)
• 3 tbsp Honey or agave nectar
• ⅛ tsp Guar gum (optional)
• 2 cups Fresh fruit of choice

Instructions

1. Bloom gelatin in ¼ cup milk for 5 minutes (soak gelatin in the milk).
2. Bring remaining milk to a boil.
3. Add dissolved gelatin to boiling milk, stirring.
4. Turn off heat, stir in cream cheese till melted.
5. Pour mixture into a mixing bowl.
6. Whisk in honey, orange juice and vanilla.
7. Pour ¼ cup into each papaya.
8. Refrigerate till set, about 2 hours.
9. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest overnight.
10. Top with mint leaves and diced fresh fruit if desired.

Helpful Tips

• Prepare the 4 sheets fillo (phyllo) dough before you start so the recipe moves smoothly.
• Taste and adjust seasoning or sweetness near the end, especially when fruit ripeness varies.

FAQ

Is orange panacotta with fresh papaya a traditional recipe?

This page is written from a Hawaiʻi Nutrition Center recipe source and is framed as a Hawaiʻi or Pacific-inspired home recipe rather than a claim about every island tradition.

Can I make substitutions?

Yes. Keep the core ingredient style, then adjust fruit, greens, protein, or seasoning based on what is fresh and available.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Calories	426 kcal
Fat	53.9 g
Saturated Fat	24.6 g
Carbohydrates	102.1 g
Protein	74 g
Sodium	1903.9 mg
Cholesterol	177.8 mg

Papaya Smoothie adds another useful Hawaiʻi and Pacific-inspired recipe to the archive, built from source-backed ingredients and simple home-cooking steps. It helps round out the site with a practical dish readers can make beside the traditional coconut, taro, breadfruit, and seafood recipes already collected here.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try Pacific recipe gallery.

Ingredients

• 4 cups papaya, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups pineapple juice
• 1 cup milk, 2% reduced fat
• 1 cup bananas, sliced
• 8 ice cubes
• 2 tbsp honey
• 4 tsp fresh lime juice

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in blender. Puree until smooth. Pour into glasses.

Helpful Tips

• Prepare the 4 cups papaya before you start so the recipe moves smoothly.
• Taste and adjust seasoning or sweetness near the end, especially when fruit ripeness varies.

FAQ

Is papaya smoothie a traditional recipe?

This page is written from a Hawaiʻi Nutrition Center recipe source and is framed as a Hawaiʻi or Pacific-inspired home recipe rather than a claim about every island tradition.

Can I make substitutions?

Yes. Keep the core ingredient style, then adjust fruit, greens, protein, or seasoning based on what is fresh and available.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Serving Size	16 oz
Calories	112 kcal
Fat	1 g
Carbohydrates	26 g
Fiber	2 g
Protein	2 g
Sodium	16 mg
Cholesterol	2.36 mg

Banana Papaya Protein Smoothie adds another useful Hawaiʻi and Pacific-inspired recipe to the archive, built from source-backed ingredients and simple home-cooking steps. It helps round out the site with a practical dish readers can make beside the traditional coconut, taro, breadfruit, and seafood recipes already collected here.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try Pacific recipe gallery.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups Banana purée
• 1 ½ cups Papaya purée
• 4 ½ cups Low fat milk
• 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt

Instructions

1. Freeze your fruit then make your two fruit purées individually from whole fruit in a blender and set aside for proper recipe measurement. *You may need to pre-mash the banana a bit first to get it to blend smoothly.
2. Add your measured banana and papaya purée to a blender along with Greek yogurt and milk.
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Pour 1 ½ cups or 12 oz. into each up and serve cold.

Helpful Tips

• Prepare the 1 ½ cups banana purée before you start so the recipe moves smoothly.
• Taste and adjust seasoning or sweetness near the end, especially when fruit ripeness varies.

FAQ

Is banana papaya protein smoothie a traditional recipe?

This page is written from a Hawaiʻi Nutrition Center recipe source and is framed as a Hawaiʻi or Pacific-inspired home recipe rather than a claim about every island tradition.

Can I make substitutions?

Yes. Keep the core ingredient style, then adjust fruit, greens, protein, or seasoning based on what is fresh and available.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Calories	71 kcal
Fat	2.3 g
Saturated Fat	1.1 g
Carbohydrates	22.5 g
Protein	13 g
Sodium	191.1 mg
Cholesterol	11.6 mg

Poached Fish with Curly Cress adds another useful Hawaiʻi and Pacific-inspired recipe to the archive, built from source-backed ingredients and simple home-cooking steps. It helps round out the site with a practical dish readers can make beside the traditional coconut, taro, breadfruit, and seafood recipes already collected here.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try Pacific recipe gallery.

Ingredients

• 1 lb fish fillets, cut into 4 pieces (mild fish, such as onaga, mahi mahi)
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 5 tbsp Basic Asian Vinaigrette (see recipe below)
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 cups (~2½ oz) curly cress, loosely measured
• 1 tbsp shallots, fresh, chopped
• ¼ cup vinegar, balsamic
• ½ tsp ginger, fresh, minced
• 1 tsp sesame oil, toasted
• 1 tbsp soy sauce, low sodium
• to taste, black pepper, ground

Instructions

1. Bring water and lemon slices (poaching liquid) to a boil in a deep pan.
2. Add fish, cover and turn off heat.
3. Let sit, covered, till cooked through, about 10 minutes, drain and pat dry.
4. Combine vinaigrette and oil.
5. Mix vinaigrette with greens, pile on fish.
6. Serve immediately with brown rice.
7. Combine all ingredients. Stir well before using.

Helpful Tips

• Prepare the 1 lb fish fillets before you start so the recipe moves smoothly.
• Taste and adjust seasoning or sweetness near the end, especially when fruit ripeness varies.

FAQ

Is poached fish with curly cress a traditional recipe?

This page is written from a Hawaiʻi Nutrition Center recipe source and is framed as a Hawaiʻi or Pacific-inspired home recipe rather than a claim about every island tradition.

Can I make substitutions?

Yes. Keep the core ingredient style, then adjust fruit, greens, protein, or seasoning based on what is fresh and available.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Calories	200 kcal
Fat	12.5 g
Saturated Fat	1.4 g
Carbohydrates	29.3 g
Protein	31.7 g
Sodium	295.4 mg
Cholesterol	61.2 mg

Fresh Fish Tacos with Hearts of Palm Salsa adds another useful Hawaiʻi and Pacific-inspired recipe to the archive, built from source-backed ingredients and simple home-cooking steps. It helps round out the site with a practical dish readers can make beside the traditional coconut, taro, breadfruit, and seafood recipes already collected here.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try Pacific recipe gallery.

Ingredients

• 8 oz Mahi mahi (or other firm flesh fish), fresh, cut bite-size
• 2 tbsp salsa
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 lime, juice and zest
• 2 tbsp cilantro leaves, minced
• 8 oz hearts of palm, shredded
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp onion, minced
• 1 to 2 jalapeño peppers, minced
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 avocado, small, diced
• 8 corn tortillas, unsalted

Instructions

1. Marinate fish in salsa, garlic, spices and oil for approximately 10 minutes.
2. Combine next 7 ingredients (lime through salt) together in a bowl, reserving the lime juice. Toss well to combine.
3. Gently toss avocado into hearts of palm, salsa, taste and add more lime juice if needed.
4. In a hot skillet, brown fish on all sides, about 5 minutes.
5. Heat corn tortillas by steaming or in a microwave, covered with a damp paper towel.
6. Top each tortilla with one scoop of fish and hearts of palm salsa. And serve.

Helpful Tips

• Prepare the 8 oz mahi mahi (or other firm flesh fish) before you start so the recipe moves smoothly.
• Taste and adjust seasoning or sweetness near the end, especially when fruit ripeness varies.

FAQ

Is fresh fish tacos with hearts of palm salsa a traditional recipe?

This page is written from a Hawaiʻi Nutrition Center recipe source and is framed as a Hawaiʻi or Pacific-inspired home recipe rather than a claim about every island tradition.

Can I make substitutions?

Yes. Keep the core ingredient style, then adjust fruit, greens, protein, or seasoning based on what is fresh and available.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Calories	156 kcal
Fat	170 g
Saturated Fat	0.5 g
Carbohydrates	29 g
Protein	21.6 g
Sodium	707 mg
Cholesterol	471 mg

Molokai sweet potato lemongrass bisque adds a polished soup page to the archive while still staying rooted in island ingredients. It pairs Okinawan-style sweet potato richness with coconut milk, ginger, lemongrass, and lime for a lighter modern Pacific bowl.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try sweet potato palau, island pumpkin coconut soup.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup sweet onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
• 2 pounds Molokai sweet potato, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup carrot, chopped
• 3 stalks lemongrass, split open
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 kaffir lime leaves or 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Dash of cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pot and cook the onion until soft.
2. Add garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add sweet potato, carrot, lemongrass, lime leaves, broth, and enough water to cover.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender.
5. Remove the lemongrass and lime leaves.
6. Add coconut milk, salt, and cayenne, then blend until smooth.
7. Adjust thickness with reserved liquid or water and garnish with cilantro.

Helpful Tips

• Remove the lemongrass before blending so the soup stays silky.
• Add lime juice at the end if you are not using kaffir lime leaves.

FAQ

Can regular sweet potatoes be used?

Yes, but Molokai or Okinawan-style sweet potatoes give deeper color and flavor.

Is this soup spicy?

Only lightly. The cayenne can be reduced or skipped.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Calories	58 kcal
Fat	4.2 g
Saturated Fat	2.1 g
Carbohydrates	30.9 g
Protein	15.7 g
Sodium	638.2 mg
Cholesterol	0 mg

Pineapple chicken gives the archive a straightforward sweet-savory island chicken dish that is easy for home cooks to use. It also helps balance the site’s coconut and taro-heavy pages with a fruit-forward main dish.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try huli huli chicken, kadon mannok.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 teaspoons cold water
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1/2 cup green onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup celery, sliced
• 2/3 cup pineapple chunks
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons pineapple juice
• 1 tablespoon sherry

Instructions

1. Marinate the chicken with water, salt, pepper, and soy sauce for 1 hour.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan and saute the green onion and celery, then remove them.
3. Add the remaining oil and brown the chicken.
4. Return the onion and celery to the pan.
5. Add pineapple, sugar, cornstarch, pineapple juice, and sherry.
6. Simmer until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through.

Helpful Tips

• Discard the marinade after using it on raw chicken.
• Serve over rice so the sauce has something to soak into.

FAQ

Can canned pineapple be used?

Yes. Canned pineapple chunks and juice work well here.

Is pineapple chicken spicy?

No. It is more sweet-savory than spicy.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Calories	51 kcal
Fat	6.9 g
Saturated Fat	0.5 g
Carbohydrates	96.8 g
Protein	17.2 g
Sodium	401.6 mg
Cholesterol	0.9 mg

Green papaya salad adds a crisp savory fruit salad to the archive and gives the site another useful way to handle unripe papaya. It is especially helpful because it brings herbs, crunch, and seafood into a lighter Pacific table setting.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try pawpaw shrimp salad, green pawpaw salad.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1/4 pound pork loin
• 1 pound green papaya, julienned
• 1 cup carrot, julienned
• 1/2 cup mint leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup basil leaves, chopped
• 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, crushed
• 1 cup dipping sauce

Instructions

1. Cook the shrimp briefly in simmering water until just done, then drain and set aside.
2. Cook the pork in simmering water until done, then drain, cool, and slice.
3. Mix the green papaya and carrot in a large bowl.
4. Add mint and basil over the papaya mixture.
5. Top with shrimp, pork, cilantro, and crushed peanuts.
6. Serve with dipping sauce on the side.

Helpful Tips

• Julienne the papaya thinly so the salad is crisp but easy to eat.
• Do not overcook the shrimp or it will turn rubbery.

FAQ

Does green papaya taste sweet?

No. Green papaya is crisp and mild, which makes it good for savory salads.

Can the pork be left out?

Yes. You can make it shrimp-only or add more herbs and peanuts.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount per Serving
Calories	58 kcal
Fat	7.7 g
Saturated Fat	0.9 g
Carbohydrates	22.9 g
Protein	25.4 g
Sodium	725.3 mg
Cholesterol	93 mg