In Māori culture, Matariki is both the name of the Pleiades star cluster and of the celebration of its first rising in late June or early July.

This also known as the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar.

This year, New Zealand is officially marking Matariki with a public holiday so gather together your whānau and celebrate with with these delicious recipes from My Food Bag.

Chicken Hangi Parcels.

Ingredients.

Hāngī

• 600g free range chicken thighs - cut in half

• 1/2 pack Stacey’s hāngī spices (smoked paprika, garlic salt, Italian herbs)

• 1 drizzle of oil ^

• 1 cabbage, leaves separated

• 400g kūmara, diced 2cm

• 200g potatoes, diced 2cm

• 2 carrot, diced 2cm

• 1/2 pack Stacey’s hāngī spices (smoked paprika, garlic salt, Italian herbs)

• 1 drizzle of oil

• 1 cup chicken stock

Broccoli

• Broccoli, cut into small florets

To serve

• 1/2 tsp mānuka smoked salt

• 1 pack watercress Béarnaise

Method.

1. Before you start
Preheat oven to 220°C (or 200°C fan bake).Bring a large pot of water to the boil with a lid.Set aside a medium baking dish.

2. Prep chicken
Pat chicken dry and cut in half. Toss with half ofStacey’s hāngī spices and season with a pinch of mānuka smoked salt. Heat oil in a large frypan on heat. Cook chicken for about 3 minutes eachside until golden brown, but not cooked though.

3. Prep & cook cabbage
Carefully separate 6 cabbage leaves, ensuring they stay intact. Cook in pot of boiling water for3 minutes, until they start to soften. Drain well and set aside (see tip 1).

4. Meanwhile, prep veggies
Dice kūmara, potatoes and carrot into 2cm. Toss in a large bowl with remaining hāngī spices, a pinch of mānuka smoked salt and oil.

5. Assemble hāngī
Lay out cabbage leaves and divide chicken and vegetables evenly between them. Fold edges over and place seam side down in reserved baking dish. Pour over stock and cover with tinfoil.

6. Cook hāngī
Bake for 60 minutes, until vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through.

7. Prep & cook broccoli
When hāngī has 20 minutes cook-time remaining, bring a medium pot of salted water to the boil. Cut broccoli into small florets. When hāngī has 5 minutes cook time remaining, cook broccoli for 3 minutes, or until tender. Drain well.

8. Serve
Serve hāngī sprinkled with mānuka smoked salt (see tip2). Serve broccoli and watercress béarnaise on the side

Tips.

1. As you only use the outer leaves of the cabbage, you have a lot leftover. Use the excess to make your next dinner.We love cabbage braised with butter, lemon and garlic, or even try your hand at making kimchi!

2. Don’t forget to eat the cabbage leaves that create the parcels. Braised in chicken stock, these are delicious!

Ultimate Kiwi Lamb Pizza.

Ingredients.

Pizzas

• 400g kūmara, thinly sliced

• 1 drizzle of oil

• 150g roasted capsicum, thinly sliced

• 125g colby cheese, grated

• 60g tomato paste

• 3 Tbsp tomato sauce

• 1 pack pizza bases

Yoghurt

• 2 Tbsp mint pesto

• 100g yoghurt

Salad

• 100g baby spinach

• 1 drizzle of olive oil

• 2 tsp red wine vinegar

Lamb

• 400g lamb rump steak

• 1 drizzle of oil

Method.

1. Before you start
Preheat oven to 220°C (or 200°C fan bake). Preheat two oven trays.

2. Prep & cook kūmara
Thinly slice kūmara, toss with oil on a lined oven tray and spread in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper and roast for 12-15 minutes, until just tender. Turn once during cooking.

3. Prep yoghurt
In a small bowl, combine mint pesto and yoghurt.

4. Prep salad
In medium bowl, toss spinach with olive oil and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

5. Prep pizzas
Thinly slice capsicum and cheese. Combine tomato paste and tomato sauce together, divide mix between pizza bases and spread evenly. Top with cooked kūmara, capsicum and cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Cook pizzas
Transfer 2 pizzas to each preheated tray and cook for 12-14 minutes, until bases are crisp and golden around the edges. Swap trays halfway through cook time to ensure even cooking.

7. Meanwhile, prep & cook lamb
Pat lamb dry and season with salt and pepper.Heat oil in a large frypan on medium-high heat. Cook lamb for 4-5 minutes each side for medium(depending on thickness), or until cooked to your liking. Rest, covered.

8. Finish pizzas
Thinly slice lamb and evenly distribute on pizzas. Top with half the spinach and dollop over yoghurt. Cut pizza into slices.

9. Serve
Serve pizza with remaining spinach on the side.