Mumu (Papua New Guinea Pork and Vegetable Earth Oven Feast)
In short: Pork, sweet potato, taro, green banana and greens steamed in coconut cream under leaves, a home-pot version of the Papua New Guinea mumu feast. It takes about 3 h 40 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 3 h
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 3 h 40 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 545 kcal
Mumu is the earth-oven feast of Papua New Guinea and the dish most closely tied to the country. Pork, sweet potato, taro, banana and leafy greens are layered over hot stones, covered with leaves and earth and left to steam for hours, then shared at weddings, festivals and other gatherings. This version steams the same ingredients in a heavy covered pot in the oven, with the coconut cream used in coastal cooking.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 160°C (325°F). Line a large heavy pot or Dutch oven with banana leaves, softened over a flame, or with two sheets of foil, leaving a wide overhang.
- Rub the pork with the salt and ginger and lay the pieces in the bottom of the pot.
- Add the taro, then the sweet potato and bananas, arranging them around and over the pork.
- Pile the greens on top and pour over the coconut cream.
- Fold the leaves or foil over the top so the food is completely wrapped. Put the lid on firmly.
- Cook for 3 hours without opening, until the pork is fork-tender and reaches at least 63°C (145°F) and the vegetables are soft.
- Rest for 20 minutes, covered. Open carefully, away from your face, and serve everything together with the juices.
Tips
- Use pork shoulder or belly, which stay moist through long steaming. Chicken thighs can replace half of the pork.
- Aibika (island cabbage) or pumpkin tips are the traditional greens, and silverbeet or spinach are good substitutes. Keep the oven closed so the steam stays in.
Questions and answers
What is a mumu?
Mumu is the Papua New Guinea earth oven and also the feast cooked in it. Hot stones steam pork, root vegetables, banana and greens wrapped in leaves for several hours.
Can I cook mumu without an earth oven?
Yes. A heavy pot with a tight lid in a low oven steams the food in a similar way, though you will miss the smoke and earthy flavor of the real thing.
What do you serve with mumu?
It is a complete meal on its own. A fresh tomato and cucumber salad or extra steamed greens are easy additions.
How long does it take to make Mumu (Papua New Guinea Pork and Vegetable Earth Oven Feast)?
About 3 h 40 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 3 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Mumu (Papua New Guinea Pork and Vegetable Earth Oven Feast)?
About 545 kcal per serving, with 28 g of protein, 47 g of carbohydrates and 27 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 545 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 28 g |
| Carbohydrates | 47 g |
| Fat | 27 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 1000 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
