IN Papua New Guinea, a traditional feast often takes place during its Independence Day celebrations every year.
The feast often features Mumu, which is a loved communal dish prepared in an earth oven using hot stones.
Ingredients such as pork and chicken, root vegetables, leafy greens, and coconut milk are wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked for several hours.
This method infuses the food with rich, smoky flavours and creates a tender, hearty meal. Mumu is more than just food—it represents community, celebration, and cultural tradition. Sharing this dish is an important part of the day’s festivities, bringing families and communities together in a meaningful and delicious way. According to www.theflavorvortex.com, in the absence of a traditional earth oven, a modern version of Papua New Guinea’s Mumu was prepared using a regular oven.
Ingredients were wrapped in foil instead of banana leaves, with chicken thighs in one parcel and a mix of sweet and regular potatoes in another.
Spinach, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, and coconut milk were added as substitutes for seasonal greens and herbs. The chicken was roasted first to ensure tenderness. The result was surprisingly flavorful, despite the simple preparation and minimal seasoning, offering a successful and accessible take on the traditional Mumu dish.
The result was surprisingly flavorful, despite the simple preparation and minimal seasoning, offering a successful and accessible take on the traditional Mumu dish. Picture: BOONDOCKINGRECIPES
Mumu (roasted chicken and vegetables). Picture: FLAVORVORTEX.COM
