Lovo (Fijian Earth Oven Chicken and Root Crops)
In short: Soy, garlic and ginger chicken baked in sealed parcels with cassava and taro, a home-oven version of the Fijian lovo earth oven feast. It takes about 2 h in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 h 30 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 2 h
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 525 kcal
The lovo is the Fijian earth oven, a pit lined with stones heated in a fire, where food wrapped in leaves steams slowly for hours. It is used for weddings, church events, village celebrations and Sunday family meals. Chicken, fish, pork, cassava and dalo (taro) are typical, flavored with soy sauce, garlic and ginger. This home version seals everything in foil parcels and bakes it, which gives a similar soft, steamed texture.
Instructions
- Mix the soy sauce, garlic, ginger, chili, oil and pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Tear off 4 large sheets of heavy-duty foil, each about 45 cm (18 in) long. If using banana leaves, soften them over a gas flame for a few seconds, then lay a piece on each sheet.
- Divide the chicken and its marinade between the sheets. Add the cassava and taro and sprinkle with the salt.
- Fold the foil over and crimp the edges with double folds so the parcels are tightly sealed. Set them on a baking tray.
- Bake for 90 minutes, until the cassava and taro are tender and the chicken reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Rest the parcels for 10 minutes. Open them carefully, away from your face, because the steam is very hot, and serve with the juices.
Tips
- Peel the cassava, cut out the woody core and cook it until fully tender. Cassava should never be eaten raw or undercooked. Taro must be cooked through too, and gloves help when peeling it.
- For a real lovo, heat stones in a fire pit for about 2 hours, lay the wrapped food on them and cover with wet sacks and earth for 2 to 3 hours.
Questions and answers
What is a lovo?
A lovo is a Fijian earth oven. Stones are heated in a pit, food wrapped in leaves goes on top and everything is covered with earth for several hours. It is used for celebrations and feasts.
Can I use banana leaves?
Yes. Soften them briefly over a flame so they do not tear, use them as a lining, then wrap the parcel in foil to hold the steam.
What do you serve with lovo?
Rourou (taro leaves in coconut milk), kokoda or a simple salad. The cassava and taro are already in the parcels.
How long does it take to make Lovo (Fijian Earth Oven Chicken and Root Crops)?
About 2 h in total: 30 min of preparation and 1 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Lovo (Fijian Earth Oven Chicken and Root Crops)?
About 525 kcal per serving, with 30 g of protein, 54 g of carbohydrates and 21 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 525 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 54 g |
| Fat | 21 g |
| Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 950 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
