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While in Hawaii a few months ago, we fell in love with a local dish called Kalua Pork.
Kalua (do not confuse with Kahlua, the liqueur) is a traditional Hawaiian cooking method in which pig is rubbed with salt, wrapped in ti leaves and cooked in an underground pit or oven. Deeply flavored, smoked, perfectly and simply seasoned, it is the backbone of the luau. While we didn’t partake of a luau while there, we had several delicious meals that included Kalua Pork, and I was inspired to try it at home. I asked the waitress how to make it, and I took her simple description and ran with it.
I don’t have an underground oven in my backyard (do you? If so, invite me over!), but I figured my trusty slow cooker could stand in. While in Kauai, I bought 
some of the Alaea Red Hawaiian Sea Salt that is used in the dish. It is red salt colored by Hawaii’s mineral-rich, volcanic red clay, and is used as a rub for meat, chicken or fish to give it an authentic flavor of Hawaii. If you don’t have it, you can find it online, or just substitute kosher salt (don’t tell anyone) and call it a day.
Let’s make Kalua pig, which you will eat for several meals. Later I’ll give you another way to use it, in something called a “local bowl.” Honestly, I ate this 3 times in Hawaii; that’s how good it was!
Recipe: Slow Cooker Hawaiian Kalua Pork
Summary: Deeply porky, slightly smoky, perfectly and simply seasoned with traditional Hawaiian sea salt, Kalua Pork is a wonderful traditional Hawaiian meal. The slow cooker stands in for the underground oven.
Ingredients
- 2.5-pound pork shoulder butt roast, trimmed of large pieces of fat
- 1 ½ teaspoons Alaea Red Hawaiian Sea Salt
- 10 squirts hickory smoke flavoring
Instructions
- Mist the inside of the crock with nonstick spray. Place all ingredients in the crock, put the lid on and cook on LOW for 12 hours (or 8 hours on LOW and 2 more hours on HIGH).
- Remove lid and, using two forks, shred meat in the crock.
- Serve meat with mashed potatoes, rice or another grain, and a green vegetable alongside. Pass barbecue sauce so each person may dribble a bit on their pork if they like.
- Serves 8. Or serves 4, with leftovers for another meal.
Source
Dorothy Reinhold | Shockingly Delicious
Sunday Supper
See this page for all the wonderful #SundaySupper dishes I have made since I joined this group, and links to all the other delicious dishes made by my fellow cooks.
Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 12 hours Diet tags: High protein, Paleo Number of servings (yield): 8 Culinary tradition: English My rating
This week our #SundaySupper crew is cooking one-pot dishes. Check out the variety of things we have cooked up for you! Try my Kalua Pork or find something else from the menu below that floats your boat:
‘Take the chill off’ Chilis, Soups, and Starters
- Spicy Sausage and Sweet Potato Soup by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Eggplant Parmesan Soup by The Texan New Yorker
- Cream of Tomato and Tortellini Soup by Noshing With The Nolands
- Chicken Tortilla Soup by What Smells So Good?
- Chicken Corn Chowder by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Spinach and Mushroom Tortellini Soup by Neighborfood
- Lasagna Soup by The ROXX Box
- Beefy Skillet Nacho Bake by The Weekend Gourmet
- German Onion Soup by Kudos Kitchen By Renee
- White Bean and Spinach Soup by Ruffles & Truffles
- Korean Oxtail Soup (Kkori Gomtang) by kimchi MOM
- Fall Squash Chili by Pescetarian Journal
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili by Alida’s Kitchen
‘Put meat on your bones’ Stews
- Brew Stewed Beef by The Foodie Army Wife
- Dr. Pepper Shredded Chicken (slow cooker) by girlichef
- Pepper Beef Stew by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Slow Cooked Beef Stew with Red Wine, Carrots and Tomatoes by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Fabulous French Cassoulet by Webicurean
- Slowcooker Coq Au Vin by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Claypot Braised Tofu by My Trials in the Kitchen
- Moroccan Lentil Ragout with Poached Eggs by The Wimpy Vegetarian
‘Make room for seconds’ Main Dishes
- Slow Cooker Hawaiian Kalua Pork by Shockingly Delicious
- Chicken and Dumplings by Hip Foodie Mom
- Spicy Tomato Pasta by Supper for a Steal
- Spicy Coconut Chicken Casserole by The Urban Mrs.
- Carnitas with Queso Fresco Enchiladas by Casa de Crews
- Slow Cooker Garlic and Herb Pork Chops and Veggies by Cookin’ Mimi
- Jambalaya by Country Girl in the Village
- Easy Oven Sweet & Sour Chicken by Momma’s Meals
- Asian Chicken Rice Pot by a distinguished palate
- Quick One Pot Red Beans and Rice by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Sweet & Sour Vegetarian Stir Fry by Foxes Love Lemons
- One-Pot Lentil Chicken by Small Wallet, Big Appetite
- Beef and Quince Tajine by MarocMama
- Slow-Cooked Italian Beef Sandwiches by Juanita’s Cocina
- Sunday Supper Pork and Chorizo by Family Foodie
- Mediterranean Chicken Bake by The Dinner-Mom
- Easy Chorizo, Corn and Potatoes by Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Crockpot Roasted Corn, Tomato and Broccoli Risotto by Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Quick ‘n Easy Asian-Style Quinoa by NinjaBaking.com
- Pan-fried Chicken with Bacon and Asparagus by Food Lust People Love
- Vegetarian Chipotle Tamale Pie by Curious Cuisiniere
- Turkey Sausage and Noodle Pesto by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- One Pot Coconut Rice Shrimp Pilaf by Sue’s Nutrition Buzzz
- One Pot Spicy Pasta by Mess Makes Food
‘Can’t say no’ Desserts
- Vegan Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pudding by Killer Bunnies, Inc
- Busy-Day S’mores Cake by Treats & Trinkets
- Mascarpone Pumpkin Cheesecake in the Microwave by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Spice Apple Crisp by Hot Momma’s Kitchen Chaos
- Flourless Almond Butter Cookies by Pies and Plots
Come celebrate one-pot cooking with the Sunday Supper team on our live #SundaySupper Twitter chat starting today at 7 p.m. EST.
- Twitter how-to: Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag throughout the day to see the recipes. To join the conversation, simply use the #SundaySupper hashtag to share your favorite tips and recipes.
- Pinterest: Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more recipes and photos.
- Join: To join the Sunday Supper Movement, sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement.
Welcome to my kitchen!
At ShockD, you’ll find scrumptious, tried & true, "scary good" recipes, tips and coaching to make YOU a fabulous home cook! Don't blame me if you need a 12-step program to wean yourself away!
E-mail me: Dorothy.Reinhold@gmail.com
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You know, I didn’t participate in a luau when I was in Hawaii either, and I must say – I sort of regret it now. Maybe I can just make your recipe, put on a grass skirt, and pretend? Except, I won’t really be doing that grass skirt bit…
This sounds amazing – we would devour it! And no, I don’t have an underground oven…but I’ve been begging hubby to make me one for years. Maybe one day ;).
Looks and sounds fabulous, I would love to go to Hawaii to have it but your looks delicious too!!
Serve with mashed potatoes!?! Blasphemy! Kalua pig must be served with “2 scoop rice”! 🙂
My family loves when I make Kalua pig (hey, we say Kalua pig not pork, just noticed that), and the leftover meat (there’s a ton) gets packed up in zip top bags and frozen for future meals–it thaws just fine.
When my son was in K, in Hawaii, I loved eating at the school cafeteria on the days that they served Kalua pig. They’d have little cups of lomi lomi salmon for the adults 😉
Thanks, Dorothy!
Kirsten,
Rice of course! But I like to bend the rules…. 🙂
How wonderful, Dorothy, that you are able to prolong your Aloha memories with a scrumptious meal. Bravo on remembering to bring back the Red Hawaiian sea salt =)
Dorothy,
oh my goodness, I love this! When I was in Hawaii at a luau, I saw the whole thing. . them taking the cooked pig out of the ground. so amazing and tasted fabulous! yummm!
Kalua pig (puaa) is usually done in an imu using hot pohakus,
rocks, that have been heated in a big fire right in the pit (imu).
Banana stumps and leaves along with ti leaves are used to keep
dirt off the pig, bananas, sweet potatoes, and fish, and the whole thing is buried for 7 hours under more leaves, burlap bags, and canvas. My friends and I used to do this back in college days. Getting and keeping a good set of lava stones
was important along with the bags and canvas. I left all that
behind me when I left Hawaii for a job in Chicago. Really miss
the Hawaiian food. Next best thing is Ono Hawaiian Food in
Kapahulu, Oahu, near Waikiki.
My kids love pulled pork. Its always such an easy meal that the kids can pick at all day. I will have to give this recipe a try, it sounds amazing!
Kalua pork always sounds so good. I need to try this! I love that there are lots of leftovers too.
Sounds delicious. I need me some Alaea Red Hawaiin Sea Salt!
I don’t have the Alaea Red Hawaiian Sea Salt but I was given some Hawaiian Black Volcanic Sea Sat for Christmas so I think I will give it a try
Laura,
Read the comments…one of the other readers warns about the black volcanic salt and says it is charcoal-y, so be warned. Give it a taste and judge for yourself before you use it. The traditional red salt definitely is not charcoal.
Oooh, as good as this looks, I can’t wait to see the local bowl!
I’m dying to try the Alaea Red Hawaiian Sea Salt. Looks pretty awesome.
Love this – and I have some of that red salt from our Kauai trip last June.
Liz,
Then it’s a done deal…you must make this!
When all the kids visit, I love to make slow roasted pork using Diane Kennedy’s recipe. Next time I’m trying it with the Red Hawaiian salt and the smoke flavoring. It’s got to be fantastic!!!
What a simple and tasty looking dish! I would love to have this for dinner!
Awesome use of a slow cooker award!! Yum! I love how simple this can be but so darn tasty.
Kalua Pork is a favorite around here too!
We make this quite often…it’s my favorite pulled pork! LOVE!!
Jen,
I cannot believe how good this is for something so simple.
I love when a recipe can transport you back to a place and time. I’ve never been to Hawaii but I’ll bet your recipe is the next best thing to being there. I’m amazed there are so few ingredients. I’ll bet that red Hawaiian sea salt really packs a punch of flavor!
Renee,
You are IN Hawaii when you eat this!