Building a Samoa UMU in Alaska.
A Samoan umu is an above-ground oven of hot volcanic stones.
The stones are heated in a fire before the food is placed on top, wrapped in banana leaves or coconut fronds, or put into half coconuts. More banana leaves cover the top to seal the 'oven'.
Food cooked in an umu includes fish and other seafood such as octopus, along with pork, chicken, lamb, taro, bananas and other vegetables. Coconut cream is traditionally used instead of oil, which adds a delicious, quintessentially tropical element to the ingredients, and ensures the food emerges juicy and full of flavour.
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