Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired)
Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired) features pork shoulder infused with gentle hickory smoke and plenty of sea salt, then wrapped in banana leaves for a moist, deeply seasoned result. The meat turns fork-tender with a subtle earthiness from the leaves and a pleasant smoky depth. Serve it for casual gatherings, luau-themed dinners, or weekend meals with rice, cabbage, or rolls.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook4 hrs
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 48 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 29
- Heart Health
- 64
- Metabolic
- 11
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 47
- Performance
- 30
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Put the pork in a large bowl and rub it all over with liquid smoke. Sprinkle salt over the meat and rub it in until evenly coated. Set aside.
- 2
Lay the banana leaves on the counter in an overlapping spiral so that when the pork is placed on them, they can be folded up and over to fully enclose the meat.
- 3
Set the pork in the center of the leaves, fat side down, and wrap the meat so the seams meet at the top. After wrapping, pick up and flip the whole package seam side down into a Dutch oven. Tuck any extra banana leaves around the sides.
- 4
Bake, covered, in the preheated oven for about 4 hours, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted near the center reads 195 to 200 degrees F (91 to 93 degrees C).
- 5
Let the pork rest in the Dutch oven for 30 to 60 minutes, then move the meat to a bowl. Pull the meat off the bone and set the bone aside. Pour all cooking liquids and rendered fat into the bowl with the pork. Use two forks to shred the meat as finely as you like. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt or liquid smoke to taste.
- 6
Arrange banana leaves in the pot to form a nest for the meat. Transfer the shredded pork in and serve immediately.
- Calories 597.25 kcal High 30%
- Protein 48.01 g Good Source 96%
- Carbohydrate 0.9 g 0%
- Total Fat 43.38 g High 56%
- Saturated Fat 13.71 g High 69%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 147.98 mg High 49%
- Sodium 177.42 mg Moderate 8%
- Dietary Fiber 0.16 g Low Source 1%
- Total Sugars 0.21 g --
- Added Sugars 0.03 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 1.45 mg Low Source 0%
- Iron 2.51 mg Moderate 14%
- Potassium 13.32 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin A 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
No known allergens listed for this recipe. Always double-check ingredients for your needs.
About This Recipe
Kalua Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired) is a Hawaiian dinner recipe made with 3 ingredients. It takes about 4 hrs 15 mins, serves 8, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Bone In Pork Shoulder Butt Roast, Coarse Sea Salt, and Liquid Smoke. Each serving provides about 597.25 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired)?
- It is a Hawaiian recipe made with 3 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired) made of?
- The main ingredients are Bone-In Pork Shoulder Butt Roast, Coarse Sea Salt, Liquid Smoke. The full list of 3 is above.
- What goes well with Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired)?
- Explore these Hawaiian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired)?
- About 4 hrs 15 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 4 hrs to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 597.25 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 3 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired) healthy?
- Kalua-Style Pork Roast (Hawaiian Inspired) has an easyChef Pro health score of 36/100. Per serving, it provides 597.25 calories and 48.01 g of protein, or 96% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 177.42 mg (8% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 13.71 g (69% of the Daily Value). Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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