by Cynthia Wall

Created on: July 24, 2011   Last Updated: July 25, 2011

Cooking for a luau does not have to be difficult.  No need to roast a pig underground; no need to harvest seaweed or prepare your own coconut milk.  But what you do want is to create a tropical atmosphere where the aroma of slow-cooked savory pork mingles with garden flowers.   For a recipe that will guide your guests in from the parking lot by their noses, try Hawaiian Roast Pork. 

Cut a 3 lb. pork shoulder roast in half and place in a plastic bag with ½ cup soy sauce and 1 and ½ liquid smoke. Refrigerate several hours or overnight, turning bag so meat is thoroughly coated.  Bake in a shallow pan covered with foil at 350 for 30 minutes. Take off foil and continue to bake uncovered until meat reaches 170F. 

The ingredients for a memorable luau are as close as your supermarket. 

First, you’ll want to set the scene – yes, the tiki torches, totems (if you have them), background or live music, real or fake palm trees, shells, and other items that suggest a tropical beach.  A luau is easiest to serve buffet style and you’ll want to give your guests plenty of choices.  From “puu puu’s” (appetizers) to dessert, line your items up on a long table. 

Hawaiians love their puu puu’s – it’s even possible to make a meal of them entirely. Here are some easy ones to include: 

Crab ragoon – crabmeat or imitation crab mixed with creamed cheese and placed into  won ton skins which are then fried. 

Barbeque ribs or teriyaki beef or chicken skewers. “Char siu-look” is a Chinese barbeque powder that adds a delicious Hawaiian flavor to ribs.  Chicken or beef or shrimp can be marinated on long wooden skewers and then barbequed or broiled. Make sure to soak skewers for an hour or so first so they don’t catch on fire. 

Fruit skewers of pineapple, melon, and papaya are easy to make. Mixed tropical fruits can also be presented in a hollowed-out watermelon half or in pineapple boats. The more artistic may want to make fruit towers. 

Salads:  

Macaroni salad is a staple of the Hawaiian diet and a must at a luau.  Hawaiians make it simply with boiled macaroni, grated carrots, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper. They add a little milk if the mayo seems too thick.  Of course you can add your own variations such as bell pepper, onion, and pickle… or change it up with fruit such as crushed pineapple

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