Samoan food is flavorful and diverse, with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. Staples include taro, yam, and coconut, often paired with seafood like fish, tuna, and octopus. Umu, the traditional underground oven, is used to cook meats such as pig, chicken, and fish, often accompanied by palusami (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk). Other popular dishes include oka (raw fish salad), luau (taro leaves in coconut milk), and sapasui (Samoan chop suey).