Kalua Pig

Moist. Delicious. Smoky.

Traditional roast pig is a luau dish. The pig is wrapped in lualua (taro) leaves, lowered into a pit and slow barbecued for hours. Nowadays the pig is more often roasted in a crock pot for 6-8 hours, even so, it remains an island delight. It is traditionally served with long rice, poi, and/or sweet potatoes. Hawaiians don't believe in eating until they're full, they believe in eating until they are tired!


Hawaiian Roast Pig

5 pound pork butt roast
2 tablespoons Hawaiian rock salt
3 teaspoons liquid smoke

Rub pork roast with 1 1/2 tbs of rock salt and 1 tsp. liquid smoke*. Place fat side up in crock pot. Add 1/2 cup water** and 1 tsp. liquid smoke. Replace lid and cook on high for 5 or 6 hours. Remove roast from crock pot and shred^. Add to the juice in the crock pot 1/2 tbs. rock salt^^ and 1 tsp. liquid smoke. Stir. Return shredded pork to brine and soak on low for 1/2 hour, or however long it takes to prepare your chosen side dishes.

*I put the teaspoonful of liquid smoke on my hands and rub the roast down.

**Some recipes call for apple cider. I use water.

^Use two forks to pull the meat apart. It will shred easily.

^^This is a very salty dish. I eliminate this last half tablespoon of salt.