What leaves cover mukbil pollo before it is cooked underground?

Banana leaves cover mukbil pollo before it is cooked underground.

The leaves wrap the masa shell and filling, helping hold the large dish together during its long cooking time. They also contribute aroma and help shield the food from the heated earth and stones of the underground oven. In traditional preparation, the wrapped dish is placed in a píib and covered for several hours.

Mukbil pollo is a Yucatecan dish associated with Hanal Pixán, the Maya observance honoring deceased relatives. Its filling may contain chicken, pork, vegetables, achiote, herbs, and a masa-based kool sauce. The banana-leaf wrapping is part of the dish’s characteristic preparation, not just a decorative serving layer.

Banana leaves are also used throughout Mesoamerican and Caribbean cooking to wrap tamales and other foods. They are different from corn husks, which are common wrappers for many smaller tamales. Avocado and agave leaves are not the standard covering for traditional underground mukbil pollo.