Luau Pork Recipes

KALUA BURIED PORK SHOULDER

Steps:

• For the pork: Season the pork shoulder generously with salt and pepper. Lay the pork in the middle of a banana leaf and wrap the leaf around it. Rotate the pork a quarter turn and wrap with another leaf. Repeat with the remaining leaves. Wrap with heavy-duty foil twice to make sure it is completely encased. Line the bottom of an 8- to 10-quart cast-iron Dutch oven with a cast-iron lid with a damp paper towel. Put the pork on the paper towel and cover with the lid. Set aside.
• Fill a charcoal chimney completely full with charcoal and light it. Once it is lit and starting to ash over, carefully move the chimney to a heatproof surface. Remove the top grilling rack of a kettle-style charcoal grill (you will not need it for grilling). Put the Dutch oven in the middle of the bottom grate of the grill. Put unlit charcoal pieces all around the Dutch oven and then empty the chimney on top of it. Using metal tongs, spread out the hot coals so they are on top of the Dutch oven as well as all around the sides (depending on the size of your grill you may need to add another chimney full of charcoal). Keep the grill uncovered and fully vented for 10 to 15 minutes to get the unlit coals started. Then put the lid on and close the bottom and top vents about 90% of the way. Cook the pork, checking every so often to make sure the grill is still hot and the temperature is hovering around 250 degrees F (add more lit charcoal as needed to maintain temperature), until completely tender, about 10 hours.
• For the coleslaw: Meanwhile, combine the coleslaw mix with the rice vinegar, chiles, mango, scallions, pineapple and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and refrigerate while the pork cooks, at least 2 hours. You can also prepare the slaw the day before.
• Carefully remove the Dutch oven from the ashes. Remove the lid and use scissors to cut an X through the top of the foil and banana leaves, all the way to the meat. Shred the meat with 2 forks, season with salt and pepper and toss to combine the meat with the juices.
• Sandwich some pork and coleslaw between the split rolls and secure with luau-inspired toothpicks.

KALUA PORK

Steps:

• Pierce pork with a fork; rub with liquid smoke and salt. Place pork in a 6-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low until pork is tender, 8-10 hours. , Remove roast; shred with 2 forks. Strain cooking juices; skim fat. Return pork to slow cooker. Stir in enough cooking juices to moisten; heat through. If desired, serve with rice. Freeze option: Freeze cooled meat mixture and juices in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add broth if necessary.

LUAU PORK LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• Rub salt and pepper over roast; transfer to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Combine ketchup, hoisin and chili sauce; pour over roast. Top with mushrooms, onion and pineapple. Cook, covered, on low until pork is tender, 6-8 hours., Remove roast; cool slightly. Strain cooking juices. Reserve vegetables and 1/2 to 1-1/2 cups juices; discard remaining juices. Skim fat from reserved juices. Shred pork with 2 forks. Return pork and reserved vegetables slow cooker; pour desired amount of reserved cooking juices over pork mixture and stir to combine. Stir in water chestnuts; heat through. Serve in lettuce leaves; top with green onions, if desired. Freeze option: Freeze cooled meat mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Microwave, covered, on high in a microwave-safe dish until heated through, stirring occasionally; add broth if necessary. Serve with lettuce.

LUAU PORK

Steps:

• Place a large sheet of heavy duty foil in a baking pan.
• Put roast on top and sprinkle with remaining ingredients.
• Seal very tightly. You might want to wrap it a second time.
• Turn on oven to 300°(convection)or 325°(conventional).
• Place pan on lower rack of oven and bake for 3 to 4 hours. Meat should fall apart and be very tender and juicy.
• To serve, shred the pork and mound on a platter and garnish.

KALUA PORK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• After scoring pork on all sides with 1/4-inch deep slits about 1-inch apart, rub with 3 tablespoons salt, then liquid smoke. Wrap the pork completely in ti leaves, tie with string, and wrap in foil. Place meat in a shallow roasting pan with 2 cups of water and roast for 4 hours. Dissolve 1 tablespoon Hawaiian salt in 2 cups boiling water and add a few drops of liquid smoke. Shred the cooked pork and let stand in this solution for a few minutes before serving.

OVEN KALUA PORK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Rub liquid smoke and 1 1/2 tablespoons of the salt into the skin of the pork. Wrap well in foil, and seal completely. Place in a roasting pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (63 degrees C) is reached, about 5 hours. Remove from oven and let cool before shredding. Sprinkle the shredded meat with the remaining 1 tablespoon of salt.

LUAU PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Lightly salt and pepper each side of the pork chops.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the onion and peppers and and press the garlic into the pan (or mince it if you don't have a garlic press); saute about 2 minutes.
• Add the olive oil and allow it to heat up, then brown the chops, about 5 minutes on each side.
• While the pork chops are browning, drain the pineapple tidbits (reserving the juice!) and add them to the skillet, stirring until starting to brown slightly.
• When the chops have been browned on both sides, add the pineapple juice and chicken broth.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover.
• Allow to simmer gently for 15 minutes.
• Whisk 1 T cornstarch into 1/4 c cold water, then slowly stir into the chops. Cook 5 minutes or until thickened.

LAU LAU

Steps:

• Season fish, pork and chicken with Hawaiian sea salt. Place 2 ti leaves in an X on a flat surface for each of the 4 servings.
• Place 1/4 of each of the fish, pork and chicken onto the center of 3 or 4 taro leaves. Wrap securely with the taro leaves, then place each wrap on a set of ti leaves. Tie the ends of the ti leaves together with a piece of string.
• Place the bundles in a large steamer, and steam for 3 to 4 hours.

LUAU PORK

Steps:

• CUT the pork butt into medium (2- to 3-inch) chunks (the ribs don't need to be cut up).
• PUT the pork in a large slow cooker (at least 6 quarts). Sprinkle the meat with the rub, turning the pieces to coat evenly. Add the pineapple juice, soy sauce, vinegar, bottled smoke, garlic, chiles, and ginger. Place the whole banana on top of the meat.
• COVER and cook on high for 5 to 6 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours, until the meat is pull-apart tender and reaches an internal temperature of 190°F.
• DISCARD the banana. Using tongs and a slotted spoon, transfer the meat to a rimmed platter or baking sheet. Let rest until cool enough to handle. Pull the meat into strands. It should shred very easily.
• To serve the barbecue later, Cover and refrigerate the meat when it has cooled. Pour the meat juice into a separate container and refrigerate. Before reheating the juice, skim and discard the congealed fat layer on the top.
• To reheat the barbecue, Place it in a saucepan moistened with some of the reserved juice. Gently heat the meat on medium-low, stirring occasionally. Or, place it in a covered casserole with some of the reserved juice and heat in a 350°F oven for 20 to 30 minutes.