What You Need to Know
Maori kumara cooking involves steaming or boiling kumara at 100°C (212°F) for 20-60 minutes, often with added leaves or aromatics, to achieve a tender and fluffy texture. The cooking process can be done using a pit oven or a hole in the ground, allowing for slow and even cooking.
Steps
- 1.
Kumara hangi (New Zealand): Primary cooking method for ceremonial feasts
- 2.
Kumara rewena (Maori): Pre-cooking step for fermented bread
- 3.
Kumara boil-up (Polynesia): Base ingredient in one-pot meals
The Science
Primary Reaction
Starch gelatinization