Easter Island was first settled in 800CE-1200CE by Polynesian explorers from Eastern Polynesia, bringing numerous plant and animal species with them. Some crops such as breadfruit, coconut and kava failed to grow in the subtropical climate. The crops that did thrive were sweet potato (kumara), taro, yams (uhi), bananas (maika), calabash (hue), ti, sugarcane (toa), giant taro (kape), turmeric (pua), arrowroot (pia) and malay apple (haia),[3][4] as well as chickens (moa) and rats (kiore). Out of the crops introduced, the sweet potato was considered the most important. Vast areas of forest were cleared for agriculture, but with the island’s exposure to wind and periodic droughts, circular stone walls called Manavai were erected to shelter crops and conserve moisture.[5]
Cazuela: A casserole dish adopted from Chile. The Easter Island version contains Polynesian ingredients such as sweet potato and plantain.[6]
Ceviche: A raw fish dish cooked in citrus juice. Tuna is the preferred fish.
Empanada: Baked turnover pastry containing fillings. In Easter Island, tuna is the most popular filling.
Po'e: A traditional pudding made from pounded foods like banana or taro, wrapped in leaves and baked into a thick consistency.
Sopaipilla: Leavened bread, rolled into a sheet, cut and deep-fried.
Tunu Ahi: Fish grilled on hot rock.
Umu: Also known as Umu pae. It is a traditional method of cooking large quantities of food. Leaves and food are layered on hot rocks before covering with soil.
^Hunt, Terry; Lipo, Carl (1 January 2013). "The Human Transformation of Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Pacific Ocean)". Biodiversity and Societies in the Pacific Islands. pp. 167–184.
