Skip to main content

Slow Cooker Kalua Pork with Cabbage

Slow cooker kalua pork with cabbage cooked with Hawaiian sea salt and liquid smoke in a bowl with cilantro on the side.

I don’t know about you, but I think Sundays were made for slow-cooker recipes. If you’re looking for a new one to try, you can’t go wrong with this recipe for Kalua Pork with Cabbage. Made simply with pork tenderloin, olive oil, garlic, and cabbage, this tasty dish is packed with bold, smoky flavors that you won’t be able to get enough of.

Kalua pork is a traditional Hawaiian dish that typically consists of pork shoulder that is seasoned with salt, wrapped in leaves, and stored underground for 16 hours. However, if you don’t have an entire day to spare, you can instead use your handy dandy slow cooker to get the job done.

This slow cooker pork recipe is wildly flavorful and only requires 5 minutes of prep time. No matter what I’ve got going on, I can always spare 5 minutes. All you have to do is rub the pork with olive oil, salt, and liquid smoke, then toss it into the slow cooker and let it do its thing. It couldn’t be easier!

Once ready, you will have a delicious and tender pulled pork dish that is perfect to enjoy over a bowl of rice or greens, stuffed into sandwiches, or on its own for a low-carb meal. The incredible flavors and tender texture guarantee to convince your dinner guests that you worked a whole lot harder in the kitchen than you did.

Kalua pork cooked in the slow cooker with green cabbage served in a bowl with Hawaiian salt on the side.

Key Ingredients

To make this delicious pulled pork dish, you will need the following key ingredients:

  • Pork tenderloin: I recommend using a boneless roast with a leaner cut, which will keep the calories and fat content low, but feel free to use any cut you like. If you decide to use a bigger roast, simply adjust the liquid smoke, salt, and olive oil amount accordingly. Traditionally pork but or pork shoulder is used.
  • Cabbage: This veggie is a fresh and hearty compliment to the smoky flavor of the pork. It’s perfect for soaking up all of the delicious, juicy flavor.
  • Liquid smoke: This is the key to achieving that delicious, smoky flavor at home. You can typically find it in the spice aisle of your local grocery store.
  • Salt: A good sprinkle of salt goes a long way in enhancing the flavor of this pulled pork dish. If you want to follow the traditional Kalua pork route, try using Hawaiian sea salt.

Recipe Tips

Here are some of my top tips for bringing this Kalua pork recipe to life:

  • Cut your pork roast into smaller chunks before throwing it into the pot. This will make your life a lot easier later when it comes time to shred the meat.
  • When you’re all finished, there will be lots of delicious juices left in the pot. For a little extra oomph, I like moving the pork to a bowl and drizzling it with a half cup of juice to maximize on the flavor.
  • For even more flavor, try swapping out the water for chicken or vegetable broth. If you take this route, make sure to reduce the added salt.
  • Don’t like cabbage? No problem! Kalua pork tastes great on its own, or you could try substituting another vegetable. I recommend onions, bell peppers, or snap peas.

How to Serve Kalua Pork

Traditional Kalua pork is often part of a larger meal or plate and is frequently served with rice and macaroni salad. However, if you’re looking for a little more inspiration, here are some of my recommendations on how to serve this dish:

  • With stir-fried veggies. Stir-fried veggies like broccoli, onions, carrots, and bell peppers are the perfect side-dish for Kalua pork. Not only do veggies add tons of nutrients, but soy sauce adds to the smoky flavor of the pork. To complete the dish, throw a fried egg on top.
  • With potato salad. For more of a barbecue feel, try serving this dish with creamy potato salad. The smokiness of this pork goes great with classic picnic fare.
  • As sandwiches. Stuffing this Kalua pork into pita bread or wraps is the perfect way to turn this delicious pulled pork into an easy, grab-and-go lunch.
  • With sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes make for a delicious and nutritious side dish. I recommend tossing them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roasting them for about 30 minutes.
  • Over salad. This savory pulled pork is a great way to add flavorful protein to a simple salad like this Easy Cucumber Salad or this Honey Lime Kale and Quinoa Salad.

Hawaiian pork with cabbage, liquid smoke, and Hawaiian sea salt in a ceramic bowl with fresh cilantro leaves.

How to Store Leftover Slow Cooker Pork

Kalua pork is a great dish to store and enjoy later. Not only do the leftovers taste amazing when served hot or cold, but this savory pulled pork is perfect in lunch sandwiches, grain bowls, and salads. Simply seal the leftovers in an airtight storage bag or container, then store them in one of two ways:

  • In the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
  • In the freezer for up to 3 months.
Calories 210, Total Fat 7g, Total Carbohydrate 4g, Protein 33g, Serving Size 2/3 cup (189g)


from Slender Kitchen Blog and Recipes RSS Feed https://ift.tt/KyQTPWx

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Huevos a la Mexicana (Mexican Scrambled Eggs)

These Mexican-style scrambled eggs are a classic Mexican breakfast that will quickly become a favorite. Huevos a la Mexicana are ready in just 15 minutes and made with a delicious combination of fresh eggs, tomatoes, onions, and chile peppers.  I love scrambled eggs as much as anyone else, but they can get a little boring at times. When I’m looking for something more exciting, I always turn to these Mexican scrambled eggs. It takes your average scramble and instantly upgrades it to something ten times more flavorful. This egg dish is the perfect way to spice up your morning routine for many reasons.  All you do is chop your veggies, whisk your eggs, and cook it all up. It’s also wholesome, nutritious, delicious, and incredibly easy to customize. Take inspiration from Huevos Rancheros and drizzle the final dish with ranchero sauce . Add fresh spinach, cilantro, or avocado. Top the final dish with queso cotija or shredded cheese. Turn it into breakfast tacos or breakfast...
Post a Comment
Read more

Slow Cooker Beef Machaca

Crockpot Machaca is a traditional Mexican dish full of peppers, tomatoes, and spice that makes a delicious taco or burrito filling. The beef comes out perfectly tender and it has just the right amount of heat.  Last night I dreamed about being a cowboy, about long nights on the trail and campfires and ….smores. So maybe it was more like camping than cowboying, but I was riding a horse and dressed in the best of cowboy attire. Where did this cowboy dream come from? I think the blame lies with this Machaca which I ate much too much of last night. You see, Machaca traditionally was a dish made by cowboys and ranchers involving dehydrated beef, some chili peppers, and was eaten with whatever was handy. Sometimes it was rolled into flour tortillas, many times it was scrambled up with eggs, and sometimes it was fried into crispy little taquitos. This version skips the dehydrated beef but uses all the traditional flavors and can be eaten a thousand different ways. Make extra. You can a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Honey Lime Tilapia

The best recipe for tilapia with a crispy coating and tons of honey lime flavor. This easy tilapia recipe is ready in less than 15 minutes, including prep, and will please even the pickiest eater. Serve it with some Pineapple Colelsaw or Mango Salsa for a tropical meal that everyone will love. I tend to think of tilapia as an "gateway fish." By that, I mean, I have noticed that many people who swear they hate all things fish end up trying tilapia and liking it. And then that kind of makes them think they'd like other fish, too. The next thing you know, they're visiting actual seafood specialty markets looking for that perfect cut of swordfish. Don't tell me I didn't warn you. But in all seriousness, every time I have made it for people who "don't really like fish" they go crazy. It also happens to be one of my all-time favorite fish recipes. While tilapia isn't going to win any awards in the looks category alone, all you really need to d...
Post a Comment
Read more