The Country Food Similarity Index is a statistically-based attempt to quantify how similar the food in one country is relative to another. By comparing the weight of raw food ingredients used in each country, a score is assigned that reflects the degree of similarity between the respective countries. The methodology is exactly the same for each country studied.
The Most Similar Cuisines to Solomon Islander Food
The Solomon Islands shares the most culinary similarities with other countries located in the South Pacific. The five countries with the most similar food are also located on tropical islands. As a result, two major components of their diets are fish and coconuts. Due to colonization, these countries all have English as one of their official languages.
- Vanuatu is a group of islands located directly to the south of the Solomon Islands. Both nations heavily rely on seafood, coconut, and root vegetables like taro and yams. Kakake is a traditional soup made from fish, coconut milk, and root vegetables. Another popular delicacy is lumu, a dish prepared by cooking fish, meat, or vegetables with coconut milk and wrapping them in banana leaves before baking them in an earth oven.
- Papua New Guinea is another Melanesian country in the Pacific Ocean. Both countries utilize an array of tropical ingredients, including root crops like taro, yam, and sweet potato. They both traditionally wrap parcels of vegetables, starches, and meat in banana leaves, then steam them in a small pit filled with hot stones. Tuna and barramundi are two commonly eaten fishes in these island nations.
- Micronesia comprises several island nations to the north of the Solomon Islands. Dishes like bai feature fish cooked with coconut milk and root vegetables, reminiscent of coconut-based stews in the Solomon Islands. The emphasis on fresh seafood and locally sourced ingredients underscores the culinary bond between the two regions.
- Kiribati is another Micronesian nation on this list. Both countries celebrate the abundant seafood found in their waters. A dish akin to lap lap in the Solomon Islands is kakama, made by wrapping grated breadfruit, banana, or pumpkin with coconut cream and baking it in an earth oven.
- Samoa and the Solomon Islands share a mutual appreciation for coconut, seafood, and earth oven cooking. Samoa’s “Umu” involves cooking an array of foods, including fish, pork, and vegetables, in an earth oven, similar to lap lap in the Solomon Islands. The use of coconut cream. However, Samoans are Polynesian, not Melanesian.
Related: The 10 Most Similar Countries to the Solomon Islands
The Least Similar Cuisines to Solomon Islander Food
With the exception of Sudan, the countries with the least similar food to the Solomon Islands are landlocked. In addition, these five countries also have much drier climates than the Solomon Islands, so their agriculture is far different. Four of the five countries are predominately Muslim.
- Uzbekistan is a doubly-landlocked country located in the middle of Asia. The country’s cuisine features a mix of traditional Uzbek and Russian dishes. Potatoes and wheat are two of the most commonly consumed starches in the country, unlike in the Solomon Islands where sweet potatoes are more prevalent.
- Sudan is a predominately Muslim country in Africa. The contrasting ingredients in Sudanese and Solomon Islander diets can be attributed to their distinct agricultural landscapes. Sudan’s dry climate allows for the cultivation of crops like sorghum, millet, and various legumes.
- Mongolia is the most sparsely populated country. Its cold, dry climate makes it difficult to grow crops. As a result, the country relies on animal husbandry for a large portion of its food. Mongolians tend to eat much more meat from cattle, sheep, and goats than people in the Solomon Islands. They also eat more dairy products.
- Tajikistan is a mountainous country in Central Asia. Tajik cuisine features stews, dumplings, and bread, and the extensive use of lamb and beef. The Tajik people incorporate spices such as cumin, coriander, dill, and parsley, which are not as common in Solomon Islander food.
- Niger is located in the Sahel region of Africa. It has an extremely dry climate, in contrast to the Solomon Islands. Its two most common staple foods are millet and sorghum, two grains that are rarely consumed in the Solomon Islands. Tuwo, a porridge made from millet or sorghum is a traditional dish in Niger.
Related: The 10 Least Similar Countries to the Solomon Islands
Full Food Similarity Ranking of Countries and Territories
Solomon Island’s Most Common Food Ingredients
Protein: Saltwater Fish, Chicken
Fruit: Coconut, Watermelon
Vegetable: Onion, Peanut
Starch: Sweet Potato, Rice
Primarily based on 2020 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.