Kalua Pig (Pork)

Hawaiian fare ... hard to find a Hawaiian restaurant that doesn't offer this.

"Kalua" refers to a traditional way of cooking in an "imu" or underground oven. In this context, it refers to a salted pig wrapped in banana or luau leaves.
I learned this recipe many years ago when I was a cook in Hawaii. I've adapted it to crockpot cooking.

  • 5 LB boneless pork roast (pork butt) 
  • score the roast all over
  • rub with 1 tbsp coarse salt
  • place in crockpot
  • sprinkle 2 tbsp liquid smoke over roast
  • cook on high about 8 hours until it falls apart (I baste about every two hours, optional)
  • shred the roast
  • add 2 tbsp shoyu (aka soy sauce), some freshly ground black pepper, and 2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
  • reduce to low and cook another hour
  • if you like ... at this point add in about 3/4 head of shredded green cabbage and cook another 1/2 hour
  • (all measurements are approximate and can be adjusted to taste ... but it should be slightly salty)

Almost no carbs in this ... but it is usually served with rice, so ...