When they are ready, they look burned! The prepared food is placed into the hole along with the burning rocks and the hole is covered in pasto (grass) and dirt. This is then covered in more earth and left to cook for several hours. When it's ready, you dig up the food and eat!
This dish has deep historical connections. The act of cooking in the ground is a way to honor Pachamama (mother earth) and thank her for the food she brings to the land. This in itself is a reflection of the deep connection with the Peruvian culture and their environment. The food that is served is all food that is cultivated here and brought straight from chacra (field) to mesa (table).
