Holidays & entertaining
Umukai (traditional earth oven)
The great traditional feast of the Cook Islands: meat, poultry, taro and breadfruit are wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked underground on hot stones. A festive meal that brings the whole family together.
Ingredients
Ingredients
Spices & seasoning
Optional extras
Instructions
- Dig a pit about 60 cm deep and burn wood in it for 1 hour until the stones are very hot.
- Season the pork and chicken with salt, pepper and sliced onions.
- Lay a layer of banana leaves at the bottom of a large basket or on a bed of leaves, then add the vegetables and meats.
- Drizzle with coconut milk and wrap tightly in banana leaves.
- Place the parcel on the hot stones, cover with damp leaves and then soil, and let it cook for 3 hours.
- Carefully dig it up and serve hot, sharing each portion.
Variations and tips
Simplified oven version. Wrap the same ingredients in baking paper and foil, then cook for 2 h 30 at 160 °C in a covered dish.
More ideas
Kōkōti (fried shellfish fritters)30 min · 4 serv. · budget-friendlySpit-roasted pork (puaka)3 h 30 · 6 serv.Beignets de pain (pua'a rēnā)45 min · 4 serv. · budget-friendlyBeef stew in coconut milk (kau kau)2 h 20 · 4 serv.Bouillon de poulet au citron vert1 h · 4 serv.Coconut crème caramel1 h · 6 serv.Chicken thighs in tomato and coconut milk sauce1 h · 4 serv.Chicken in coconut milk (moa kaka)1 h · 4 serv.
Cook Islands
Cook Islands
Cook Islands
Cook Islands
Cook Islands
Cook Islands
Cook Islands
Cook Islands
Original Ecomely recipe.