Mangu

lovo

Next Dish: Fihunu Mas

Lovo is a traditional Fijian dish, often prepared for special occasions, which involves cooking food in an earth oven, or "umu". The process involves digging a hole, heating stones in a fire, wrapping food in banana leaves, and burying it to cook. The food cooked in a Lovo can include meat, fish, and vegetables. This method of cooking gives the food a unique smoky flavor.

salt

banana leaf

cabbage

chicken

dried pepper

spinach

taro root

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole chicken

  • 1 whole fish

  • 2 kg of taro root

  • 2 kg of sweet potatoes

  • 2 bunches of bananas

  • 1 kg of spinach

  • 1 whole cabbage

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Banana leaves

  • Aluminium foil


Instructions:

  1. Clean the chicken and fish thoroughly, then season with salt and pepper.

  2. Wrap the chicken and fish individually in banana leaves and then in aluminium foil.

  3. Peel the taro root and sweet potatoes, then wrap them individually in banana leaves and then in aluminium foil.

  4. Wrap the bananas and spinach in banana leaves and then in aluminium foil.

  5. Dig a hole in the ground about 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide.

  6. Light a fire in the hole and let it burn until you have a bed of hot coals.

  7. Place a layer of stones on top of the coals.

  8. Place the wrapped food on top of the stones, starting with the meat, then the root vegetables, and finally the bananas and spinach.

  9. Cover the food with more stones and then cover the hole with soil.

  10. Let the food cook for about 2-3 hours.

  11. Carefully remove the food from the hole, unwrap, and serve hot.