Here’s a tender, smoky, and flavorful Kalua Pig recipe — a Hawaiian classic that’s easy to make at home, even without an underground imu oven. 🌺🐖🍍
🌴 Kalua Pig (Hawaiian-Style Pulled Pork)
Ingredients
- 4–5 lb (1.8–2.2 kg) pork shoulder or pork butt
- 1½ Tbsp Hawaiian sea salt (or coarse kosher salt)
- 1 Tbsp liquid smoke (hickory or mesquite)
- Optional: 3–4 banana leaves or a few pieces of foil to wrap the meat
- Optional: Cabbage, chopped, for serving (traditional side)
🥥 Instructions
1. Prepare the pork:
- Pat the pork dry with paper towels.
- Rub the entire roast with sea salt.
- Pour liquid smoke evenly over the meat and rub it in.
- Optional: Wrap the pork in banana leaves (for authenticity and moisture), then in foil to seal.
2. Cook (choose one method):
🌀 Slow Cooker (easiest method):
- Place pork (and any wrapping) in a slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 10–12 hours (or HIGH for 6–7 hours), until the meat is tender and shreds easily.
🔥 Oven Method:
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Place wrapped pork in a roasting pan or Dutch oven.
- Cover tightly with a lid or foil.
- Roast for 5–6 hours, or until meat is fall-apart tender.
💨 Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker:
- Add pork and ½ cup water.
- Cook on High Pressure for 90 minutes, then natural release for 15–20 minutes.
3. Shred and serve:
- Remove pork and shred with two forks.
- Mix in some of the cooking juices for flavor and moisture.
- Traditionally served with steamed white rice and Hawaiian-style cabbage (see below).
🥬 Optional Kalua Pig with Cabbage
- After shredding pork, keep about 2 cups of the cooking liquid in the pot.
- Add 4 cups chopped green cabbage.
- Cover and cook on medium heat until cabbage is wilted and tender (about 5 minutes).
- Stir cabbage and pork together and serve hot.
🍍 Serving Suggestions
- With Hawaiian macaroni salad and rice (traditional plate lunch style)
- In Hawaiian rolls or taro buns for sliders
- As a filling for tacos or burritos with pineapple salsa
Would you like me to give you a Kalua Pork Slider version — with Hawaiian rolls, coleslaw, and sweet-savory sauce?
