''Otai' is a fruit drink which originated in Tonga and is usually made as a summertime refreshment. It is a blend of water, coconut milk, and any variety of pulped tropical fruit such as coconut, watermelon, mango, and pineapple but is almost always watermelon as it is plentiful in Tonga. A small amount of sugar may be added, although the recipe is considerably sweet on its own. I lived in Sydney many moons ago and the Polynesian families drank this by the gallons in the summer. Soooo refreshing and yummy! Serve over ice cubes.
Ingredients
- seedless watermelon, halved and: 1 piece (sliced)
- water: 3 cups
- pineapple: 1 can (15.25 ounce can, crushed)
- evaporated milk: 1 can (12 fluid ounce can)
- coconut: 0.5 cup (shredded)
- white sugar: 2 Tbsp (to taste)
- lime: 0.5 piece (juiced)
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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Grate watermelon with a fork from the rind into a large bowl, leaving no large chunks. Stir water, pineapple, evaporated milk, and coconut into the grated watermelon. Add sugar; stir until dissolved. Squeeze lime juice into the watermelon mixture.
