What You Need to Know
Hāngi cooking involves wrapping food in leaves or cloth to retain moisture and heat, with cooking times ranging from 2-6 hours. The process combines steam, conduction, and radiation to achieve temperatures up to 200°C.
Steps
- 1.
Hāngi Pork (New Zealand): Creates caramelized bark with smoky depth
- 2.
Kūmara Hāngi (Māori): Intensifies sweet potato's natural sugars
- 3.
Pūhā and Watercress (East Coast tribes): Softens greens while preserving nutrients
The Science
Primary Reaction
Starch gelatinization and protein denaturation