

Yields:
6 - 10 serving(s)
Prep Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
10 hrs
Kālua pig and cabbage is Hawai'i's ultimate comfort food. This pork dish is the star of the show, whether it’s served as a plate lunch alongside classic sides like macaroni salad and poi—a paste pounded from taro root—or ladled generously into a bowl in Mom’s kitchen after a long day. “Kālua” refers to a Hawaiian method of cooking that uses an underground oven, but never fear—you don’t need to build a fire and pit to accomplish this low-maintenance version of the recipe. Kālua pig and cabbage works well for a weeknight dinner, with the slow cooker pulling the heavy weight. Using only a handful of ingredients, it’s simple enough for a beginner and cost-effective for a chef on a budget.
Just pop your pork into the pot in the morning and let it cook in its own juices for hours. The wilted cabbage not only adds a touch of green, but also balances out an otherwise meaty meal. Although this dish from the islands is often served at a lū'au, it’s perfectly suited for a chilly autumn or winter evening. And don’t forget the rice—a crucial carbohydrate element that ties the recipe together!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Ingredients
- 3
to 5 lb. pork butt
Flaky sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp.
Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4
head of green cabbage (about 1 3/4 lb.), chopped into 1" pieces
- 1/4 cup
reduced-sodium soy sauce
Cooked white rice, for serving
Directions
- Step 1Generously season pork with salt and pepper on all sides, then rub into meat with your fingers.
- Step 2Place pork in a slow cooker. Add Worcestershire sauce and toss to coat. Cover and cook on low until pork is tender enough to shred with a fork, 7 to 9 hours, depending on size of pork.
- Step 3Shred meat with 2 forks, leaving any drippings in slow cooker. Add one-third of cabbage. Once cabbage cooks down, stir, add another one-third of cabbage, and repeat until all cabbage is wilted, about 30 minutes total.
- Step 4Continue to cook on low until pork and cabbage are very tender, 30 to 60 minutes. Add soy sauce and stir to combine; season with salt and pepper, if needed.
- Step 5Ladle pork, cabbage, and some juices over rice to serve.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

69 Recipes For Traditional Mexican Food

62 Chinese Food Recipes Anyone Can Pull Off

22 Latin American Dishes

Zeppole
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below