New Caledonia: Lifue Island – Eating Bougna
Bougna (pronounce as “boo-nia”) is the traditional dish of Kanak people in New Caledonia – a casserole of meat or fish with root vegetables prepared in the ground under fire. We witnessed the entire process of bougna preparation – taro, yams, bananas, manioc slices led and arranged around a chicken, then soaked in freshly squeezed coconut milk, then rightly wrapped in banana leaves (and foil), and places in a depression hot oven in the ground and covered with hot stones. A couple hours late and bougna is ready! We also sampled fish and pork bougnas as well.
