Hawaiian Style Oven-Roasted Kalua Pork
If you don’t have time to build an imu, this oven-cooked kalua pig is nearly as good. Living in Hawaii its easy to find Ti and Banana Leaves; if you can’t find them, no worries, use Aluminum foil. However, liquid smoke is a key component. Look for it at specialty food stores.
Yes, you need a little patience, it takes a few hours to cook. Good excuse to relax with a Mai Tai or a beverage with a little umbrella in it!
Worth the wait, truly Onolicious!
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 hours
Servings: 8 to 10
Ingredients:
- 5- to 5 1/4-pound boneless pork butt roast
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Hawaiian sea salt or coarse sea salt
- 6 to 8 large Ti & 3 to 4 large banana leaves or aluminum foil
- 6 cups water, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ cup guava jelly
- Kitchen string
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, whole
Directions: • Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Using a sharp knife, cut 1/4-inch-deep slits, 1 inch apart over the pork roast.
- Rub 2 tablespoons sea salt all over pork.
- Unfold the Ti leaves and place on a work surface. Place pork roast atop of the leaf. Melt the guava jelly in a small saucepan or in the microwave oven, stir in the liquid smoke and pour over the pork.
- Fold up Ti leaf around pork, enclosing completely. Wrap the pork in the banana leaves. Tie with kitchen string to secure, and then wrap the roast in aluminum foil. If you are using only aluminum foil, skip the Ti and Banana Leaves.
- In a roasting pan; pour 4 cups water into the bottom of the pan, add garlic and onion to the water. Place the wrapped pork on a rack in the pan. Place in the oven and cook for about 5 hours or until the pork is very tender when pierced with fork.
- Unwrap the pork and cool slightly. Using two forks shred pork.
- Strain the pan liquid, discard the solids and place the liquid back into the pan, add the shredded pork to the pan liquid so it will absorb the Onolicious liquid in the bottom of the pan. Serve Hot.
Notes:
- Hawaiian sea salt is available at specialty food stores and online from Hawaii Specialty Salt Company at www.hawaiisalt.com.
- Ti and Banana leaves are available at Asian markets, Latin markets or through a florist.
- Liquid smoke is a smoke-flavored liquid seasoning available at many supermarkets and specialty foods stores.
Serving suggestions:
- Serve with Hot Cooked rice, Luau Style
- Use as a filling for Tacos or a Quesadilla
- Pulled pork sandwich with Guava BBQ Sauce
- Sauté onions and cabbage, add Kalua Pork, serve with rice or noodles