Being stuck in a pandemic has made me appreciate all the trips I have gone to. It has made me also appreciate that you cannot take life for granted because things change and they can change fast. I’m still dreaming about the amazing food that I had in Hawaii even though its been over a year since I’ve been. I wanted to make something that reminded me of the relaxing times. I decided to make Kalua Pork.

Kalua pork is traditionally cooked underground in something called an Imu. This is like an underground oven and usually filled with hot stones. There are many things that can be cooked this way but I really liked the flavours of the Kalua pork when I had it at a luau.

Cooking in an underground oven is nearly impossible in a city but you can recreate a version of it in your instant pot. Its not the same but can satisfy your travel bug.

Gather your ingredients.

Mix liquid smoke, garlic powder, salt, oil, soy sauce and water into the instant pot. Cut the pork into smaller pieces. Pan fry the pork until there is a nice crust.

Add the pork to the instant pot. Set the instant pot on High for 70 minutes. Allow it to naturally release.

Once pressure has released, take the pork out and shred.

Serve with a side of rice, cabbage, pineapple or on a bun. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 4 lbs Pork shoulder
• 1 tbsp liquid smoke
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp coarse Hawaiian salt or Himalayan salt
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 cup water

Directions

1. Mix liquid smoke, garlic powder, salt, oil, soy sauce and water into the instant pot.
2. Cut the pork into smaller pieces. Pan fry the pork until there is a nice crust. Add the pork to the instant pot.
3. Set the instant pot on High for 70 minutes. Allow it to naturally release.
4. Once pressure has released, take the pork out and shred.
5. Serve with a side of rice, cabbage, pineapple or on a bun. Enjoy!

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