A Morning at Nadi Market: Finding My Favorite Vegetable and a New Recipe
Bula!
This morning, finding my refrigerator completely empty, I decided to drive down to the morning market in Nadi town for the first time in a while.
Nadi town is always bustling and finding a parking spot can be quite a challenge. Because of that, I usually find myself picking up my vegetables at the Namaka market or from the small roadside stands along the way.
Coming to Nadi market itself felt like a nostalgic little adventure.
The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by that familiar, overwhelming energy—a lively, vibrant space filled with the raw, authentic pulse of local island life.
Since early this morning, my children had been asking for pineapples, so I headed out with every intention of finding them.
However, it seemed the season had slightly slipped away.
However, it seemed the season had slightly slipped away.
A local friend once shared a secret with me: "The sweetest, most delicious pineapples are the ones that are plump and beautifully rounded."
But looking around today, the ones on display were all rather small.
When I asked for the price, I was surprised —FJD 5 for just one single pineapple.
Knowing that during peak season you can often buy three for FJD 5, and not finding any that looked perfectly ripe, I quietly decided to pass this time.
This small inconvenience—this reminder that some things simply belong to their own season—has become something I find quite endearing about living here.
Instead, I stumbled upon something that made my heart leap—Ota! It’s a wild Fijian river fern that I have been completely captivated by since the very first day I tasted it.
Lately, it has been surprisingly hard to find.
Today, I spotted it sitting on a mat, proudly sold by a local Fijian woman. With the season drawing to a close, hers was the only stand that carried it today.
Another local had previously advised me, "The lower stalks are thick and tough, so it’s best to snap off the tender tops with your hands and boil them."
But today, this wonderful woman looked at me with a glowing smile and said, "Turn up the heat high, use a generous splash of oil, and stir-fry it all at once.
That is the absolute best way to enjoy it!"
On my way out, I managed to pick up some of my favorite Bongo Chillies.
Following her advice, I can’t wait to heat up the pan tonight and create a fresh, spicy Ota stir-fry.
Looking back, I realize how gently and beautifully my way of shopping has shifted since moving to Fiji.
In my past life, walking into a supermarket meant expecting almost every vegetable to be perfectly lined up, all year round.
Back then, deciding on a menu meant knowing with absolute certainty that the ingredients would be waiting for me on the shelves. But here in Fiji, what you find depends entirely on the season and the recent rainfall.
Because you can’t always get what you came for, you learn to look at what the earth has provided that day, choosing the freshest pieces with your own eyes, and letting your imagination wander: “Now, what beautiful dish shall we create tonight?”
I feel I’ve become a little better at creating something delicious out of simply whatever is on hand.
I am so looking forward to expanding my kitchen tonight with today’s fresh harvest and the recipe gifted to me by that smiling woman at the market.
Creating daily abundance with exactly what is right in front of us—this slightly imperfect, beautifully slow rhythm of Fiji quietly brings a sense of deep peace to my soul.
I hope your day ahead is filled with gentleness and warmth.
If you have discovered any beautiful or delicious ways to cook vegetables lately, I would love to hear about them in the comments below.
