Hawaiian Kalua Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

A grey circle with KF
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs
Total Time
8 hrs 30 mins

These Hawaiian Kalua Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa are a delicious twist on a famous Hawaiian recipe. They’re made with kalua pork, red cabbage and fresh pineapple salsa!

Hawaiian Kalua Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

At the beginning of this week I told you I would share some Hawaiian Recipes from our most recent trip to Maui and Oahu. Well, let the Hawaiian Recipes begin. 🙂  One of the things that Hawaii is known for are their Luau’s. In fact, if you go to Hawaii it is the one thing that people tell you you have to experience. The dancing and flame throwing is pretty fun but the food is awesome!  To signify the start to the Luau they unveil the Kalua Pig that has been roasting in the ground for hours. This pig is usually generously seasoned with Hawaiian Rock Salt, wrapped with banana leaves, put in a hole dug in the ground that they turn into an undersground oven, and then covered again. It is delicious!

When we got back from Hawaii I immediately started searching for Kalua pork recipes and found one at this awesome blog Pineapple & Coconut! {you should check it out, she loves any and all things Hawaiian} I didn’t just want to make pork though, I wanted to amp it up turn it into a taco and add some pineapple salsa! After all, Hawaii is also know for their pineapples right? So, there you have it folks, a Hawaiian Kalua Pork Taco with Pineapple Salsa. You will love it!

How to Make Hawaiian Pork Tacos

To get started, pat dry 4-6lbs of pork shoulder and place in slow cooker.

Image of Pork in a Slow Cooker

Generously poke the pork shoulder with a fork, the more the better. {these holes will let the seasonings flow into the meat}

Image of Poking Pork with a Fork

Next, pour 1 T. of liquid smoke over the pork shoulder.

Image of Liquid Smoke

Then add 1 T. of Red Hawaiian Sea Salt. {you can get this at World Market}

Image of Hawaiian Sea Salt

Rub the sea salt and liquid smoke into the pork shoulder very well to ensure it is completely covered.

Image of Pork

Place lid on to cover and cook for 8-12 hours, checking every hour after 8 hours for doneness {I used 4lb. and it took 8hrs.}

Image of Kalua Pork

When finished, shred pork with two forks. To make the Pineapple salsa, use 1 whole pineapple, slice off the exterior and remove the core.

Image of a Pineapple

Next, chop up your pineapple into small bit size pieces. {almost minced.. i mean tiny people}

Image of Chopped Pineapples

Place pineapple in a large bowl and add 1/4 cup of minced red onion, 1/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro, 1 minced {very finely chopped} chipotle pepper from a can of chipotle in adobe sauce, juice of half a lime, and salt.

Image of Pineapple Salsa Ingredients

Mix all together.

Image of Pineapple Salsa

Next, thinly slice {should look like shoe strings} half of a red cabbage head, add to a bowl and mix with juice of 1 lime.

Image of Cabbage in a Bowl

Assemble to tacos, put a little of hawaiian kalua pork, pineapple salsa, and red cabbage on a corn tortilla and eat up!

Image of Two Hawaiian Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

If you wanted you could add queso fresco cheese to this or a little BBQ sauce would be good too!

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Hawaiian Kalua Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

  • Author: Krista
  • prep_time Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • cook_time Cook Time: 8 hours
  • total_time Total Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
  • yield Yield: 20-25 tacos 1x
  • category Category: Dinner
  • method Method: Slow Cooker
  • cuisine Cuisine: Hawaiian

Description

These Hawaiian Kalua Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa are a delicious twist on a famous Hawaiian recipe. They’re made with kalua pork, red cabbage and fresh pineapple salsa!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 46lbs. Pork Shoulder
  • 1 T. liquid smoke
  • 1 T. red Hawaiian Sea Salt {can be bought at World Market}

For Pineapple Salsa:

  • 1 whole pineapple, chopped into very small pieces {almost minced}
  • 1/4 cup of minced red onion
  • 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro
  • 1 minced chipotle pepper, from a can of chipotle pepper in adobe sauce
  • juice from half a lime
  • salt

For Tacos:

  • half of a red cabbage head, thinly sliced
  • juice of 1 lime
  • corn tortillas

Instructions

  1. Pat dry 4-6lbs of pork shoulder and place in slow cooker.
  2. Generously poke the pork shoulder with a fork, the more the better. {these holes will let the seasonings flow into the meat}
  3. Next, pour liquid smoke and Red Hawaiian Sea Salt over the pork shoulder. Rub the sea salt and liquid smoke into the pork shoulder very well to ensure it is completely covered.
  4. Place lid on to cover and cook for 8-12 hours, checking every hour after 8 hours for doneness {I used 4lb. and it took 8hrs.}
  5. When finished, shred pork with two forks.
  6. To make the Pineapple salsa, use 1 whole pineapple, slice off the exterior and remove the core.
  7. Next, chop up your pineapple into small bit size pieces. {almost minced.. i mean tiny people}
  8. Place pineapple in a large bowl and add red onion, fresh cilantro, chipotle pepper from a can of chipotle in adobe sauce, juice of half a lime, and salt.
  9. Mix all together.
  10. Next, thinly slice {should look like shoe strings} half of a red cabbage head, add to a bowl and mix with juice of 1 lime.
  11. Assemble to tacos, put a little of hawaiian kalua pork, pineapple salsa, and red cabbage on a corn tortilla and eat up!
  12. If you wanted you could add queso fresco cheese to this or a little BBQ sauce would be good too!

Notes

Kalua Pork Recipe from Pineapple & Coconut

Keywords: pineapple salsa recipe, pineapple salsa, pork tacos, pork tacos recipe, homemade tacos, easy tacos recipe, slow cooker tacos, hawaiian recipe, kalua pork recipe

 

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36 Responses
  1. Edwin Mendija

    Went to a party yesterday and the host did a whole pig in the imu…we live here on Molokai. So wife & I decided to try this recipe for dinner…here we go! Mahalo!!!

  2. Anyonita

    I don’t know what excites me more about this, the pork or the salsa! 🙂 Delicioso!!! Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers! Please be sure to stop back by the party and check out some of the other links!

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      I know right! I can’t make up my mind either, I just eat it. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Anoynita and for all the ‘share love’. 🙂

  3. Diane

    Just wanted you to know that your recipe is being featured on foodie friday today. Stop by and get your featured button. I will be tweeting and pining your recipe all this coming week.

  4. Meghan @ The Tasty Fork

    I went to Hawaii 1.5 years ago and I’m STILL talking about it! It’s so beautiful there and they truly do have the best pineapple in the world! These pork tacos are a must make! I’ll be pinning!

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      I would be too! It is beautiful! You and your hubbie need to plan a trip. Tell him its for recipe research for your blog, hehe. They totally do have the best pineapple ever, you can definitely tell the difference.

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      Absolutely, had a blast. You had a fun little party over there. 🙂 Thanks for the “pin love”, hope you have a great weekend!

  5. SherryO

    O.M.G. – I am drooling over here, this sounds SO good. I worked at a grocery store as a teenager many moons ago and always loved the ease of their pineapple slicer. No excuse for not eating or cooking with tons of pineapple when you have one of those babies in your arsenal. 😀

    Thanks for linking up to our Super Sunday Linky Party and be sure to visit again!

    SherryO @ WhoNeedsACape.com

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      haha.. I know! My mother in law just got me this awesome little gadget and I LOVE it! So much easier to cut/slice/chop the pineapple with that baby! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Sherry!

  6. Camille

    Yes! Just tried my 1st pork taco yesterday (don’t know what took so long). I’m adding this recipe to the menu right away.

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      haha… hey, I’m right there with you! I think pork has a bad rap.. but its making a come back. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Camille!

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