What You Need to Know
These ancient cooking techniques utilized natural materials like clay, stone, and wood, and were employed in Mesoamerica and the Andean region. Earth ovens could reach temperatures of up to 250°C, while solar ovens could reach temperatures of up to 150°C using concentrated sunlight.
Steps
- 1.
Pachamanca (Andean): Simultaneous cooking of meats and tubers using hot stones in earth oven
- 2.
Barbacoa (Mesoamerican): Slow-cooking meat in underground pits with maguey leaves
- 3.
Nixtamalization (Mesoamerican): Alkaline cooking process for maize using wood ash or lime
The Science
Primary Reaction
Maillard reaction, caramelization