Chicken Free Hawaiian Kalua Pulled Pork

This slow-cooked pulled pork brings the smoky, tender spirit of a traditional Hawaiian imu pit right into your kitchen, no underground oven required. The banana leaves do serious work here — they wrap around the pork shoulder as it cooks low and slow, trapping steam and infusing the meat with a subtle earthy fragrance that you simply cannot fake. Coconut aminos and apple cider vinegar add a savory, slightly tangy depth, while turmeric and ginger give the rub a warm, golden complexity that goes way beyond basic salt-and-pepper. After eight hours in the slow cooker, the bone slides free on its own and the meat shreds into impossibly juicy, silky strands that soak up every drop of the cooking liquid. There is no poultry anywhere in this recipe — just pure pork, pantry staples, and a handful of bold, clean ingredients that let the meat shine. Pile it over steamed rice, stuff it into slider buns, or serve it alongside macaroni salad for a full plate that tastes like a backyard luau. The liquid smoke is optional, but even a small splash takes the whole dish somewhere deeply satisfying.

About Fig

Fig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.

Learn more →