How to Use a Bamboo Pole for Cooking
Before the advent of clay cooking pots, natives in the Philippines used to cook their chicken using bamboo poles. This method dates back to prehistoric times, particularly among tribes in the forested areas in southern Philippines where bamboo trees abounded. Indigenous natives living in the mountains in the present time still use this method. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Green bamboo pole
- Whole chicken
- Salt
- Pepper
- Onions
- Garlic
- Green banana leaf
- Shovel
- Firewood
- Stones
- Tongs
- Small ax
Instructions
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1
Choose a fresh, green bamboo pole at least 1/2-inch thick and 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Cut the pole to about 20 inches long, leaving one end open and the other closed by the knurl, or knob, of the bamboo.
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2
Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces, and season it with salt and pepper. Add one diced onion and 1/2 bulb of garlic, mashed. Place these inside the bamboo pole through its open end and close it tightly with a green banana leaf rolled to fit the opening.
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3
Dig a hole in the ground about 5 inches deep, and stick the knurled end of the bamboo into the hole so it stands upright. Support the pole with stones so it won't fall over.
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4
Build a wood fire around the standing bamboo pole to burn its outer surface with steady heat. Within 30 to 45 minutes, the boiling sap of the bamboo should start to trickle out through the banana leaf cover.
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5
Reduce the heat by half by removing some of burning wood. After 15 minutes, remove the bamboo pole using tongs; lay it on a table and carefully crack it in half by hitting along the center of the pole with a small ax. The dish will be ready to serve.
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Tips & Warnings
Bamboo poles are widely available in Asia. They could also be obtained from Asian markets and lumber yards all over the world where there is a large Asian community, like in the U.S.
