A hog spit roast has long been a popular method of cooking all over the world. Nonetheless, if you look on the internet you will see that the recipes for roasted pig aren’t exactly in abundance. This is because most people tend to add a bit of salt for seasoning and that’s it. This is a testament to how delicious and full of flavor a whole pig is. Nevertheless, it is always nice to try different recipes and come up with innovative dishes for your family and friends to try.
One recipe you should definitely try is the Hawaiian hog spit roast. To say this is scrumptious is an understatement. Before delving into how you can cook this fantastic meal let’s establish why Hawaii is the choice of the day. The main reason is quite simply because a pig roast is a popular dish in the US state. Families tend to cook a hog roast on Memorial Day – it has become somewhat of a tradition. Nonetheless, some people cannot refrain themselves to a mere one hog roast a year, and thus you can expect to see roasted pig cooked frequently in Hawaii.
The way they cook the pig roast in Hawaii is slightly different. Typically, they will dig a big pit into the ground and this will be lined with banana leaves. The locals then heat lava rocks until they are piping hot and are placed into the pit. The pig, which will have been seasoned, is then placed inside the pit. It is usually covered with banana leaves as well. The banana leaves work well because they act as an insulator, and they enhance the flavor of the pig. But don’t worry; you won’t be expected to dig a pit! The typical spit roasting method will suffice.
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Recipe for Hawaiian hog spit roast
You will be pleased to know that cooking a Hawaiian-style pig is actually fairly simple. Nevertheless, the meat will be full of flavor and your guests will definitely be licking their lips! All you need is a bottle of liquid smoke. You will find that this comes in a selection of different flavors. You can pick anyone that suits your taste as it will still complement the meat perfectly. In addition to this you need to get your hands on some green, or in other words unripe, bananas. And the last key ingredient required is kosher salt.
The first thing you need to do is cover the pig in the liquid smoke you have purchased. Before you do so it is always a good idea to take a knife and make a few slashes into the pig. This is beneficial because it aids the flavor when it is attempting to seep into the meat whilst the cooking is taking place. It is up to you how much liquid smoke you use. Nevertheless, try and make sure you get an even covering.
Once you have done this the next step is to cover the pig in kosher salt. Don’t worry about adding too much. Kosher salt is completely different in comparison to typical table salt we tend to eat with our dinners and alike. You don’t have to worry about it being too overpowering. Now to the interesting part; you need to add the unripe bananas. If you can get your hands on banana leaves then great, if not then don’t worry as green bananas do the same thing. Don’t peel your bananas. All you need to do is attach them to the pig. Use a piece of string and wrap them around – just like a butcher does with a big slab of meat. And don’t worry; your meat is not going to taste like bananas! It helps to enhance the natural flavor of the pork. The results are impressive to say the least.
You can use the pork in many ways, serving it as it is, frying it, or grilling it after for some color. Whatever you do, make sure you organize a pick-up of any left over oil or liquid smoke, as this is vital for the environment. Check out https://gfcommodities.com/our-services/yellow-grease-uco-pickup/ for more details.
Get in touch with your tropical side and wow all of your guests with a Hawaiian style hog spit roast. Bring out the grass skirts and the flower garlands and transport you and your guests to the beautiful island itself. After all, if you can’t get to Hawaii then bring Hawaii to you!
Photo by Matheus Gomes