Breakfast
Vakasoso (Cassava and Coconut Breakfast Pudding)
The Quirky Foodster Team

Ingredients
- 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) Cassava (yuca), peeled and grated
- 400 ml (1 3/4 cups) Coconut milk
- 80 g (1/3 cup) Brown sugar
- 250 ml (1 cup) Water
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 medium Ripe banana, sliced
Method
- Peel and finely grate the cassava into a bowl.
- In a saucepan, combine grated cassava, water and salt over medium heat.
- Cook for 10 minutes, stirring often, until the cassava softens and thickens.
- Stir in coconut milk and brown sugar, reduce heat to low.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until glossy and thick.
- Fold in sliced banana in the final 2 minutes of cooking.
- Serve warm in bowls, drizzled with extra coconut milk if desired.
Introduction: Vakasoso is a soft, sweet cassava porridge cooked in coconut milk, traditionally eaten by iTaukei (indigenous Fijian) families as a warming morning dish, especially in rural villages where cassava is a daily staple.
Cultural Background: Vakasoso is a soft, sweet cassava porridge cooked in coconut milk, traditionally eaten by iTaukei (indigenous Fijian) families as a warming morning dish, especially in rural villages where cassava is a daily staple. It is often prepared for gatherings and church mornings.
Tips: Use freshly grated cassava rather than frozen for the best texture. Stir constantly near the end as the mixture can catch and burn easily.
Variations: Substitute taro for cassava for a nuttier flavour (Vakasoso ni Dalo). Add grated coconut flesh for extra texture. Naturally vegetarian; fully vegan if sugar is plant-based.
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of coconut milk, stirring to loosen.
FAQs:
Q: Can I make Vakasoso vegan?
A: Yes — it is naturally dairy-free; just check your brown sugar is unrefined and vegan-certified.
Q: Is Vakasoso very sweet?
A: It has a gentle, comforting sweetness rather than a dessert-level sugariness.

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