Something’s Fishy in French Polynesia – Poisson Cru

The water is so clear in the South Pacific that you can see fish swimming in the water. Yellow fish. Striped fish. Long, pointy fish. There are plenty of fish in French Polynesia, and I don’t mean the dating website either. HA! It shouldn’t surprise you that their main source of protein in the South Pacific is fish. While on my honeymoon in Bora Bora, I was introduced to one of my new favorite dishes: Poisson Cru.

It was weird being so far away from my Latin roots and seeing similarities. Poisson Cru is the South Pacific version of “ceviche” minus the spice. “Poisson” meaning fish. “Cru” meaning raw. If you’re not into raw fish, have no fear. It is marinated in a substantial amount of lemon to “cook” the fish.

We all go coco for coconuts! I even saw a coconut floating in the middle of the water. Crazy, right? The Intercontinental Resort Bora Bora Thalasso had a cool coconut show where the pool guy taught us how to open a coconut, shred a coconut, make coconut milk, even climb a palm tree to fetch a coconut. The secret to making poisson cru – using fresh coconut milk.

Fresh ingredients make a big difference. This is red ahi tuna, freshly caught that day, of course. There’s nothing like eating fresh fish. PERIOD. It is then diced into tiny pieces. Tons of lemon for “cooking” the fish and coconut milk squeezed by our new friend, the pool guy. You can also use lime, if that’s your thing.

The taste of Poisson Cru is amazing, delicate, light, not sweet but full of flavor. If you let this sit for an hour, the flavors will develop. Yum. Yum. And more yum! … Best vacation EVER!!!