Another Great Breadfruit Recipe: Piapalsod

by Dr. Lois Englberger

On Thursday 28 July 2005, the Mand Community Working Group for documenting traditional foods enjoyed another great breadfruit recipe. This is "piapalsod", made from seeded breadfruit, meikole (Pohnpei) or meipa (Pingelap). Merlain Pony prepared this dish from her own meipa fruits. Piapalsod is a rare treat in Mand because there are presently now only a few trees there of that variety.

Meipa (meikole) is particularly rich in provitamin A carotenoids, including beta-carotene. Samples of different Micronesian breadfruit varieties were collected and analyzed at two laboratories, the Institute of Applied Sciences/University of the South Pacific, Fiji, and DSM Nutritional Products, Switzerland. Meikole contained 868 micrograms of beta-carotene per 100 g, whereas the mei uhpw variety of breadfruit contained 154 micrograms. The meiniwe variety contained less than 5 micrograms. As other breadfruit, meipa (meikole) flesh is rich in energy, fiber, vitamin C, B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin), phosphorus, and iron.

Meipa (meikole) is unique, as it is a variety of breadfruit that can be eaten raw, without cooking! The ripe raw fruit is characterized by its natural sweetness.

The seeds of meipa are also a tasty nutrient-rich treat! Meipa (meikole) seeds have a taste similar to chestnut (mwuropw) and are a rich source of protein, important for growth and body repair.

Piapalsod

Ingredients

5 meipa (meikole) seeded breadfruits, ripe, washed
coconut cream extracted from 5 coconuts

Method

1. Peel the breadfruit. If ripe, you can peel with your fingers, just rubbing.
2. Remove the core, but leaving the seeds.
3. Place in a pan.
4. Squeeze the coconut cream from fresh coconut over the breadfruit.
5. Bake in oven or uhmw for about 1 hour until done and serve.
6. Eat the breadfruit flesh as it is. Eat the seeds by first breaking open and discarding the covering.

Note : Piapalsod is noted for its creamy texture and sweet taste. Meipa (meikole) is particularly rich in natural sugars and needs no additional sugar.