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. Diane

    My brother in law is from Hawaii and is living in England. I’ll send him this recipe to remind him of home. Thanks for sharing it with us on foodie friday.

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      Awesome!! I bet he misses home, England is nothing like Hawaii, I hope the recipe cheers him up and brings back memories! 🙂 Thanks for hosting such a great party Diane.

  2. Bevin

    I’ve never made pineapple salsa before, I will have to try this! Thank you for sharing at our Super Sunday linky party!

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      I haven’t either, ate plenty, but this one is a winner. Thanks for hosting a great party for me to share at. 🙂

  3. Becca from ItsYummi.com

    OMGosh Krista… I’m drooling all over myself! I’m such a fan of pork and that pineapple salsa looks AMAZING and so refreshing!
    I’m trying to eat lower carb, so I’ll probably pick up some whole wheat tortillas, but I’m DEFINITELY making this recipe soon!

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      hahaha… Becca you crack me up! The pineapple salsa is definitely the part that brings this whole taco together. It is so yummy! I hope you enjoy it and thanks for stopping by. 🙂

  4. Christie - Food Done Light

    Delicious recipe. I especially love the chipotle in the pineapple salsa and the liquid smoke in the pork is a genius idea. Saw this recipe on Six Sisters. I co-host Thursdays Treasures link party which will go live Wednesday night. Would love for you to share a recipe with us.

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      Awesome! I would absolutely love to stop by. Thanks for the invite and stopping by! 🙂 Love meeting new foodie peeps.

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      Thanks girls! It is super yummy, especially with the hint of chipotle. I could probably just eat it with a spoon, no judges! 🙂

  5. Julie @ This Gal Cooks

    Oh wow, Krista. These look so SO good! I am not even a really big fan of pork and I rarely eat it but I would gobble these up! Pinned and sharing on Facebook tomorrow. 🙂

    Did you bring the pineapple back with you? I’ve had pineapple right from Hawaii before. One of my previous co-worker’s mom went to Hawaii and sent some back. Oh my it was so delicious. I love pineapple anyways but it was exceptional!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      I am so with you on the pork, there is always an exception though and this is one of them. 🙂 Unfortunately, the pineapple is not from Hawaii, I wish it was. I totally didn’t know you could ship them, next time for sure! 🙂 How fun that your previous co-workers mom did that. So sweet! Hope you have a great weekend!

  6. Happy Valley Chow

    Wow great job Krista, those look and sound absolutely incredible! I want to pick up one of those pineapple slicers, they look like so much fun to use haha. Thanks for sharing!

    Happy Blogging!
    Happy Valley Chow

  7. lisa@cookingwithcurls

    I want that pineapple cutting thing, that is so cool! I don’t have a world market, but I will find that salt somewhere. I have to make this, it looks absolutely delicious 🙂

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      If you have a speciality grocery store around I’m sure they have it! 🙂 The pineapple slicer is aa—mazing! I have used it twice already since I got it, which has only been a week. Makes life lots easier.

  8. Gina

    HOLY SMACKERS!!! Yum- I have got to make this. I have this strange obsession with shredded meat- any kind. For some reason it tastes a million times better this way.

    1. Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
      Krista

      I know right?!? Everything is better when it’s shredded. By the way, I literally laughed out loud at your comment, thanks for making my day! 🙂

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