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Pulaka

Pulaka is a starchy Pacific Island swamp tuber commonly cooked and served as a staple food.

Pulaka — illustrative ingredient image

About Pulaka

Pulaka is the starchy corm of a Pacific swamp-grown plant, often known as giant swamp taro. It is cultivated in wet or excavated ground and eaten as a staple after cooking. The corm is used much like other starchy underground vegetables, served alongside savoury foods or added to substantial meals.

When cooked, pulaka has a firm, dense interior and a mild, starchy flavour. Longer cooking softens it for mashing, while shorter cooking can leave substantial pieces with a more cohesive bite. Cultivar, maturity, growing conditions, and fibre content influence its moisture and tenderness.

Pulaka is generally handled as a fresh whole corm or as peeled, cooked portions. The outer skin is removed before boiling, baking, steaming, or other cooking. It may be served in chunks, sliced, or mashed; baking tends to concentrate its flavour, while boiling produces a softer, moister texture.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where pulaka appears

1 linked foods

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Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for pulaka

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

pulaka

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Pulaka nutrition & diet

Pulaka nutritional value

Representative benchmark: Crayfish / lobster, not further specified

Representative nutrition benchmarkOfficial table values for a comparable food category, not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient.

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
89kcal
Protein
19.2g
Carbs
0.7g
Fat
1.0g

Representative benchmark from a comparable official food-composition category; it is not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient. The displayed reference form must be considered, and species, cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Establish that the ingredient is the specific Pacific Island swamp tuber called pulaka and identify the edible corm or tuber portion. Match boiled, baked, roasted, or otherwise cooked form, including whether peeling, soaking, or added coconut and fat are part of the serving.

Compare the right form: Use a reference for identified pulaka swamp tuber and matching peeled or unpeeled, cooked edible portion and preparation method.

Diet considerations

Pulaka is a plant-derived starchy tuber. Compatibility changes with coconut cream, animal fats, seafood, meat, and accompanying sauces or stews. Its carbohydrate pattern is portion-dependent and differs between plain cooked tuber, mashed preparations, and dishes combined with other roots, cereals, or sweeteners.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically compatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically compatible
The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Pacific Nutrient Database 2020 — 01.1.3.4.2_99 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .