Community Forum

Halymenia formosa (R)

In Hawaii, the classical method of preparation is as a thickener in a stew or soup. The tasty, dried fronds can be served as a snack, somewhat like potato chips. In Samoa, Halymenia is included with fish in a ground oven, or cooked as a vegetable with coconut milk. The fronds may also be cooked in coconut milk with local herbs and eaten as a vegetable. In Vanuatu is eaten fresh or sundried and used as a thickener and flavoring in seafood soup or stew. Dry fronds can be eaten as a snack. Fresh Halymenia is also sliced thin and eaten as a salad vegetable. This species is also eaten in the Philippines and Malaysia.