How to Cook Perfect Luau Pork Shoulders

In Hawaii, a luau is the traditional birthday party fare.

Traditional Kalua pig is cooked in an Imu (underground oven) all day long.

Here's a much easier recipe for luau pork that tastes almost as good, and that is sure to make your party a hit.

Aloha!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 pork shoulder (6-8_ lbs.) 4 Tbs liquid smoke 4 Tbs coarse sea salt 2-3 banana leaves Aluminum Foil Kitchen string

1. 
    

   Preheat your oven to 350d. Score pork on all sides with 1/2 inch slits about an inch apart, rub with salt, then liquid smoke.

2. 
    

   Wrap the pork in banana leaves, tie with kitchen string, and then wrap completely in foil.

3. 
    

   Place shoulder in a shallow roasting pan, fat side up, with 2 cups of water, and roast for 4 hours. Remove foil for the last 20-30 minutes to brown. Check every few minutes to insure that the fat cap doesn't burn.

4. Dissolve 1 Tbs of salt and 2 Tbs of liquid smoke in 2 cups of boiling water. Shred the pork and let rest in this solution 10 minutes before serving. Serve with sticky rice and tropical fruit salad.

Tips & Warnings

• For a sweeter dish, brush the pork with several tablespoons of peach/pineapple preserves before serving. Any questions? Would you like to know how to prepare this dish in a La Caja China roaster? Drop me a line at perry(at)perryperkinsbooks.com
• Undercooked pork can be dangerous. Use an instant read thermometer to insure that your shoulder has reached an internal temp of at least 180d.