How to make a Hangi - Explanation

How to make a Hangi

The Hangi is the traditional earth oven for the maori people to celebrate their cultures for  example the Christmas dinner or Birthday party. Did you know that it takes 5 to 6 hours to make a Hangi which means if you starting at 8 o'clock in the morning and it finishes at 1 or 2 o'clock in afternoon.

To cook a Hangi first dig big hole that can fit big trays. The big hole is called a Pit. The second step is burning the wood and heating the iron and volcanic stones to 100 degrees. While the iron and rock burns a Karakia is said to pray that the forest will be protected by Tane Mahuta and food is cooked well. Normal rocks are not used because they can explode. To heat the fire pit it takes 2 hours to heat up to 700 degrees

After the fire has burned for 2 hours, the embers are removed so the food is not too smoky or acrid. The heated iron is transferred to another pit and gets covered with cabbage leaves, wet leaves or taro leaves so it steaming the meat and vegetables not baking. Next putting the Kumara, stuffing, chicken, pork, vegetables, beef to the tray. Before you putting the tray into the pit place the towel side of the pit so sand doesn't get in the food and also doesn’t get maddy.

Then put a tray into the pit. The bottom tray must be a big meat, second part is middle size meat and top part is the vegetables so meat will cook well. While waiting for the meat and vegetables to cook, you can read a book or watch TV because it takes 3 - 4 hours to cook a Hangi. When it finished you unearth the towels and sheets from the side and lifting each tray steady and carefully.

After finishing all of the steps you can prepare it for dinner and enjoy eating it. Hangi is usually cooked by men and the food is prepared by women.
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This week is the Maori language week so, for writing we were learning about how to make a Hangi. The Hangi is the traditional maori earth oven. First we watched video to remembering the facts and step for how to make a Hangi. Next we were writing lots of words and planning with partners. After the planning we separate and starting to write a own explanation. One of the thing that I felt really amazed was it takes 5 to 6 hours to make a Hangi. I learnt that women prepare the food and men cook the Hangi. I think this explanation help you if you don't know how to make a Hangi.