No Imu Kalua Pig Recipes

Steps:

• Dig a hole in the ground about 8-feet by 8-feet by 4-feet deep. Arrange wood in a pyramid fashion then placing round river stones on top of wood. Light wood and heat stones for about 6 hours or until wood starts to turn into bright red coals.
• Place pig on its back and place a few hot stones in cavity. Wrap with meshed wire.
• Arrange remaining stones over wood so it becomes level. Take out any wood that has not burned into coals. Place shredded banana stumps evenly on top of stones next arrange 1/2 of amount of Ti leaf stalks evenly on shredded banana stumps. Place wrapped pig in meshed wire on top of Ti leaf stalks add remaining Ti leaf stalks on top of pig. Next place soaked burlap bags on Ti leaf stalks. Then place heavy duty canvas on top of wet burlap bags. Place 6 inches of sand on top of that. Cook for 6 hours, Uncover imu and shred pig.

Steps:

• Dig a pit in the sand 2 feet deep and 6 feet in diameter. Add the river rocks and cover with enough of the wood to get the fire underway to heat the rocks. (You will add the additional wood as needed.) Start the fire (to heat the rocks to 800 degrees F). Add the metal panels on top of the fire to contain heat without smothering the fire.
• Using assistance place the gutted pig in the supine position on the stretcher-like platform and wrap the affixed chicken wire around to mostly secure the pig, but leaving enough room to be able to put the heated lava rocks inside the body cavity.
• Place some banana "stumps" in the body cavity of the pig to serve as a buffer between the hot coals and the pig meat to prevent the flesh from burning.
• Protecting your face, hands, and body with proper gear and using safe equipment, remove enough of the metal panels from the fire to retrieve the heated rocks with fire safe tongs. Someone will use heavy fire mitts to hold the rocks in a pair of tongs, while the other person uses the ti leaves "brush" to dust off the ash. The rocks with the ash removed are then placed one-by-one in the cavity of the pig so it will cook from the inside out with dry heat. Place some additional banana "stumps" in the body cavity of the pig to serve as a buffer between the hot coals and the pig meat to prevent the flesh from burning. The carcass of the pig is then closed with chicken wire and additional metal wire as needed to secure the chicken wire. Remove the attachments that have been holding the chicken wire to the stretcher. Transfer the pig to sit atop the metal panels of the imu, and use the additional ti leaves like aluminum foil, placing them dull side up, shiny side down in a cross configuration to steam the exterior of the pig with the moisture from the ti leaves.
• When the pig is cooked through, approximately eight hours, use assistance to remove it from the fire, let rest for 30 minutes, then carve it down. The cheeks of the pig should be reserved for the most honored guest.