Kalua Pork

The King of Aloha

Why It Works

Simply, it's pork with three flavors: minerally salt, earthy steam, and sweet smoke.

Salt: Pink Hawiian salt, or Alaea Salt, is an unrefined salt that has a large pebble like crystal, and a minerally taste. The taste and color come from the addition of Alaea, which is volcanic clay that contains 80 different minerals and is rich in iron oxide, which produces a red/ pink color. True Alaea salt is difficult to find and expensive, but the California made version is most commonly used. Amazon

Steam: Banana leaves are used to encase and provide moisture for steaming the pork. Banana Leaves are tougher compared to spinach like Lu'au (used in other Hawaiian dishes). It imparts a green tea-like earthy flavor and allows the meat to steam as in a pressure cooker.

Smoke: Since you aren't making a wood fire in your oven, using liquid smoke is your best bet to achieve the same flavor profile. Hawaiian cuisine traditionally uses three woods for smoking: Kiawe (like mesquite, most popular), Guava, and Lychee. Kiawe liquid smoke is available on-line, but mesquite liquid smoke is similar and easy to find in most grocery stores.

Pairings

Pineapple Fried Rice, Coconut rice, Mac Salad, Poy, Loco Moco and Hawaiian Suns!

Tasting Journal

Date: 12/23/23

ng Notes: Big Hit! Wrapped Extra thicken with defrosted banana leaves. Try to use Fresh if available. The frozen have a weird slimy texture. Serve in Dutch oven as seen below with separated banana leaves and pork in the middle.