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Nauruan cuisine (Nauruan: Iyeyi Naoero) refers to the traditional cuisine of the island state of Nauru. Nauru has been settled by the Nauruans, an offshoot of the Micronesians for centuries, and thus it shares similar culinary practices with neighbouring islands. Nauruan cuisine also has influences of German cuisine, due to the island being occupied by Germany in the late 19th century. The discovery of phosphate and importation of Chinese workers also brought along chinese influences. British influences would also influence the islands cuisine after the triumvirate of Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain occupyed the island following World War I.

History
The island of Nauru was first settled by Micronesian seafarers around 1000BCE. As a raised atoll, few edible plants existed on the island. The majority of food plants were brought over with the voyagers, with coconut and pandanus fruit becoming the major staples of the diet with breadfruit, seeded breadfruit, figs and mangrove fruit also being eaten. Fish and other seafood were caught off the reefs and birds like noddy were caught and eaten. Animal husbandry was also practiced by the Nauruans. Young milkfish (Ibiya) were captured from reefs and raised in the Buada Lagoon and Frigate birds were tamed and utilised for catching fish. Early accounts and oral tradition also suggest chickens were introduced and raised for food by the Nauruans. The discovery of phosphate led

As a result of phosphate mining, the majority of the islands arable land was degraded, leaving Nauru dependent on importing food from overseas. With most of food imported being highly-processed and nutritionally scarce, Nauru has the highest rate of obesity in the world.

Ingredients
Like its other island neighbors, Nauruans consume a large amount of seafood, as well as foods made from coconuts and pandanus fruits. Coconut milk is also used extensively in Nauru. Coconut fish (raw fish, often tuna, served in coconut milk with seasonings) is a traditional dish.

The native Nauruan names of traditional crops are:


 * epo/épo: Pandanus tectorius ekareba flour edongo paste
 * ini: Cocos nucifera kamwirara syrup
 * damagmag: Tacca leontopetaloides
 * deme Artocarpus altilis
 * damenkamor Artocarpus mariannensis
 * dagimadere Spondias dulcis
 * eaeo Ficus prolixa dedangang fig and syrup
 * eteto Terminalia catappa
 * etum Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
 * deneno Morinda citrifolia

Dishes

 * Coconut crust –
 * Coconut fish – Raw fish, served with coconut milk and seasonings.
 * Coconut mousse –
 * Earth oven (Nauruan: Yom) –
 * Fried rice –
 * Lemon chicken –

Influences
Nauruan cuisine is greatly influenced by Chinese cuisine. The Chinese are the major foreign community of the country, and there are a number of Chinese restaurants on the island, most notably in Yaren. In 2010, there were 138 Chinese restaurants in Nauru, in a country of hardly 10,000 people.

Nauruan cuisine also shows strong Western influence.

Traditions
The majority of Nauruans are Christians, and members of the Nauru Congregational Church. They often celebrate Christmas with cakes made from banana and coconut.

Some desserts, such as coconut mousse, are consumed on special occasions.