'Ota 'ika facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
'Ota 'ika

ʻOta ʻika
Alternative names	Coconut fish, Ika mata, Iʻa ota, Kokoda, Oka iʻa, Oraora, Ota, Poisson cru
Type	Salad
Course	Appetiser
Place of origin	Oceania
Region or state	American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna
Main ingredients	Fish, lemon, lime, coconut milk

ʻOta ʻika is a yummy dish from the Oceania region. It's made with fresh, raw fish that's soaked in a mix of lemon or lime juice and creamy coconut milk.

In places like Tonga, Tahiti, and Samoa, the fish is first soaked in lemon or lime juice for a short time. This makes the outside of the fish look cooked, even though it's still raw inside! After that, coconut milk and chopped veggies like cucumber, tomato, and onion are added. This delicious meal is the national dish of Tonga!

Different Names for Ota Ika

This popular dish has many names across the Pacific islands. Here are some of them:

• Cook Islands: ika mata
• Fiji: kokoda
• French Polynesia: poisson cru, iʻa ota
• Nauru: coconut fish
• Niue: ʻota ʻika
• Samoa: oka iʻa
• Tokelau: ʻota ʻika
• Tonga: ʻota ʻika
• Tuvalu: ika mata
• Wallis and Futuna: ika ota

The word "ota" means "raw" in many Polynesian languages. The word "ika" means "fish" (or "i'a" in Samoan). So, "ota ika" basically means "raw fish." In French Polynesia, people often call it "poisson cru", which is French for "raw fish."

You can make "ota" with many types of seafood, not just fish! People also use mussels, prawns, crab, lobster, octopus or squid, sea urchin, and even eel.

Gallery

• Variants
• 

  Cook Islands Ika mata.

• 

  Tuna Poisson cru, served on a banana leaf.

• 

  Kokoda in Fiji

Dishes Similar to Ota Ika

There are other dishes around the world that are quite similar to 'Ota 'ika:

• The kinilaw from the Philippines is very much alike.
• The kelaguen from the Mariana Islands is also similar and came from kinilaw.
• Poke from Hawaii is another raw fish dish. However, it doesn't usually use citrus juices or coconut milk.
• The Latin American ceviche is also similar. It's a newer dish, and some think it might have been inspired by dishes like 'Ota 'ika, especially since citrus fruits weren't originally from the Americas.

See also

In Spanish: Pescado crudo polinesio para niños