Bougna
Coconut-steamed feast bundle cooked on hot stones
Think of it as: Like a clambake wrapped in banana leaves
Wrapped in leaves, cooked by rocks.
What does it taste like?
Root vegetables soaked in sweet coconut milk, with tender meat or fish.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureFluffy and moist
What is it?
Yams, taro, plantains and chicken, fish or lobster are bundled in banana leaves with coconut milk, then steamed for hours over hot stones. It's a festive Kanak dish from New Caledonia.
How locals eat it
Made for weddings and big gatherings. The bundle is opened and shared.
Watch it
More videos on YouTubeWhere is it from?
🇳🇨New Caledonia
CapitalNouméa
Populationabout 290,000estimate (unverified)
IndustriesNickel, Tourism
An overseas territory of France.
Famous peopleChristian KarembeuFootballer, 1998 World Cup winner with France
HelloBonjour (French)
CurrencyCFP franc
And JapanJapanese workers moved here from the Meiji era to work in the nickel mines.
Fun factIt's one of the world's top nickel producers, and its reef lagoon is among the largest on Earth.
The flag🇳🇨 It flies both the French flag and the Kanak flag, which is blue, red and green with a traditional rooftop spire.
From Tokyoabout 7,030 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Nouméa
Getting thereAbout 8.5 hours (direct)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeSeptember to November, cool and dry. Also tryPoisson cru (marinated raw fish)Venison steak
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeSeptember to November, cool and dry. Also tryPoisson cru (marinated raw fish)Venison steak
🇳🇨 Sounds & life in New Caledonia
BonjourHello（Bonjour (French)）
Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
Right now…
AnthemSoyons unis, devenons frères
MusicKaneka Kanak tradition blended with reggae
Listen on YouTube SportSoccer
Christian Karembeu (soccer, 1998 World Cup winner with France) World HeritageLagoons of New Caledonia and more National animalKagu
MusicKaneka Kanak tradition blended with reggae
Listen on YouTube SportSoccer
Christian Karembeu (soccer, 1998 World Cup winner with France) World HeritageLagoons of New Caledonia and more National animalKagu
Ingredients
- Yam 500 g
- Taro 300 g
- Sweet potato 300 g
- Plantains 2
- Chicken or fish 600 g
- Coconut milk 400 ml
- Banana leaves, several
- Salt, a pinch
Can't find it? No banana leaves? Wrap in foil and bake in the oven.
How to make it (one way)
- Dig a pit and heat stones in a fire
- Lay out banana leaves and layer the roots, plantains and meat or fish
- Pour on coconut milk, salt, and wrap tightly
- Set on the hot stones and cover with leaves and earth
- Steam for 2 to 3 hours and share
⚠️ The stones get extremely hot. Use an oven at home.