Kalua Pork is a traditional Hawaiian dish that is served in a Luau, a gathering of people in a celebration of the Hawaiian culture. The term Kalua is a method of cooking or a way of baking in an under the ground oven, called the “imu.” It is quite time consuming and takes a lot of planning to make an “imu,” just to cook a whole pig for a festive gathering. Today, kalua pork with cabbage can be cooked in a much simpler method, using a regular pot, slow cooker or my way, the instant pot way. The "instapot" way is by far the quickest method and equally just as tasty as the previous two. With just enough ingredients, Kalua pork with cabbage can be on your table in just about an Hour.
It is simple enough and yet just as good or even better than some of your local take-out restaurants!
Every time I eat this dish, it takes me back to the days when our family would gather for a Pot Luck birthday party and someone would always bring Kalua Pork with Cabbage.
Here are the basic ingredients you will need to bring a flavor of Hawaii on your plate today or any day. This serves about 8 people (if this is too much at one time for you, then cut the ingredients in half, except the bacon and water).
3 Slices of Bacon
4 pound boneless Pork Shoulder Meat (cut to about 1 ½ inch thick portions)
6 Peeled and Smashed Garlic cloves
1 tablespoon Regular Fine Salt) or 1 ½ Hawaiian Sea Salt (if available)
1 Tb black peppercorn or ground pepper ( Optional)
½ Tb Liquid Smoke
1 cup of Water
1 Whole head of Cabbage, cored, and sliced
1. Cut the pork shoulder into manageable portions, about 1 ½ inch to fit in the pot in one layer.
2. Rub salt on all sides of meat
3. Set the Instant pot on Saute and lay bacon flat on the bottom of pot
4. When it starts to sizzle, turn over bacon, the bacon will initiate the smokiness of this dish. After turning the bacon, add the seasoned pork in one layer and placing the smashed up garlic in between the meat.
5. Add the liquid smoke and one cup of water (minimum amount needed for instant pot)
6. Cover and Reset to Pressure mode for about 50-60 minutes.
7. Release pressure and remove cover to check for doneness (pressure cooker sometimes differ in pressure setting, if meat is not tender yet, then pressure cook it for another 10 minutes, sometimes the meat is not cut evenly so, they don’t cook thru at the same time)
8. Poke the meat with a fork or chopstick to see if it’s tender enough to pull apart.
9. If it is, remove meat from pot and let it cool, leaving the liquid in the instant pot. Separate or pull meat apart with 2 forks, and set aside .
10. Place the sliced cabbage in the remaining liquid, cover and pressure cook for 2 minutes.
11. Release pressure, uncover and add the pulled pork back into the instant pot.
Give it a good mix and turn off instant pot.
12. Serve with rice and Enjoy!
You can make this dish your own by adding some other ingredients, to enhance more flavor, and the key is to keep it Simple.
Kalua Pork with Cabbage is very simple and easy to make. If you have a lot of time, this would take about 3 hours on a regular pot on the stove or 8 to 9 hours in a slow cooker. But if you need a quick fix, “Instapot” it.
If you have discovered a more simpler way, or added other ingredients and to enhanced this dish, please comment on our You Tube Channel comment section. Let us know and we’ll be happy to share it with others.
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