Sluggish Cooker Kalua Pork and Cabbage

Dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway? This sluggish cooker Kalua Pork brings island vibes straight to your kitchen—no imu pit or aircraft ticket required. It’s tender, smoky, and surprisingly easy to make at dwelling with liquid smoke and banana leaves.

This Zero Level recipe is ideal for meal prep or feeding a crowd, and it pairs superbly with delicate sides like steamed rice or veggies. Don’t miss our different Weight Watchers slow cooker recipes!

Why strive sluggish cooker Kalua Pork?

• Six elements. Pork shoulder, salt, garlic, liquid smoke, banana leaves and half a head of inexperienced cabbage. That’s the entire buying checklist.
• The sluggish cooker does the work. Rub the pork with the garlic paste, wrap every little thing within the banana leaves and put the lid on. This Kalua Pork cooks on low till it’s fall-apart tender and shreds simply with a fork.
• The aspect dish cooks in the identical pot. A layer of cabbage goes underneath the pork and one other goes on high, all inside the identical bundle, so the cabbage is prepared when the pork is.
• 0 Factors and eight servings. One pork shoulder makes eight servings at 0 WW Factors every, sufficient for meal prep or a full desk.

Recipe Overview

• Serving Measurement: 263 g.
• Variety of Servings: 8 
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Prepare dinner Time: 10 hours
• Whole Time: 10 hours 20 minutes
• 0 WW Factors Per Serving. You possibly can view the recipe on the WW App here. (WW login required.)

Components in Kalua Pork:

• 4 lb. pork shoulder (1.8 kg), extra fats and pores and skin eliminated
• ½ tablespoon salt (9 g)
• 4 garlic cloves, mashed right into a paste (about 12 g)
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (5 ml)
• 6 giant banana leaves, cleaned and dried (about 300 g whole)
• ½ head of inexperienced cabbage, chopped into giant chunks (about 4 cups, 280 g)

Can’t discover banana leaves? Parchment paper or foil may even wrap the bundle and maintain within the steam.

Directions for making Kalua Pork:

1. Begin by trimming any seen fats or pores and skin off the pork shoulder to cut back extra grease throughout cooking. Set the meat apart.
2. In a small bowl, mash the garlic cloves utilizing a mortar and pestle or the again of a spoon till they change into a paste. Add the salt and liquid smoke, then combine nicely to create a seasoning paste.
3. Rub this paste all around the pork shoulder, ensuring to coat all sides evenly. Therapeutic massage it into the meat so the flavors can start to penetrate.
4. Subsequent, wash the banana leaves completely underneath working water. They could seem clear, however it’s essential to take away any residue. Dry the leaves with a clear kitchen towel. In the event that they’re stiff or vulnerable to cracking, soften them barely by passing them briefly over a scorching pan or microwaving them for just a few seconds. This can make them extra versatile and simpler to make use of.
5. Line the underside of the sluggish cooker with banana leaves, overlapping them to create a base that may even wrap the meat. Place a layer of chopped cabbage instantly over the banana leaves. Set the seasoned pork shoulder on high of the cabbage, then add one other layer of cabbage on high of the meat.
6. Fold the banana leaves over the filling to type a good bundle. If wanted, use kitchen twine to carry the leaves in place.
7. Cowl the sluggish cooker with its lid and cook dinner on low warmth for 8 to 10 hours, or till the pork is fall-apart tender and shreds simply with a fork.
8. As soon as cooked, rigorously open the banana leaves and switch the pork and cabbage to a baking tray. If the pork seems pale, you’ll be able to place it underneath the broiler (set to excessive) for about 10 minutes to develop a richer colour and a light-weight crisp on the sides.
9. After broiling, switch the pork and cabbage to a big serving dish.

Suggestions and Tips for making Kalua Pork

This recipe is totally new to me, however I wish to share a little bit of my expertise:

• First, I eliminated all of the seen fats and pores and skin from the pork. I did this with the aim of saving Weight Watchers factors.
• Then, I mashed the garlic and blended it with salt and a contact of liquid smoke to make a paste that I rubbed all around the meat.
• I learn that many conventional Kalua Pork recipes embrace cabbage cooked alongside the pork. I assumed it was an awesome thought because it additionally takes care of the aspect dish, so I made a decision so as to add it in—and I undoubtedly suggest you do the identical.
• Earlier than placing every little thing collectively, I made positive to scrub the banana leaves completely underneath working water and dry them with a clear kitchen towel. They’re not clear sufficient to make use of straight out of the bundle.
• Lastly, I wrapped the pork and cabbage with the banana leaves like a giant bundle. If wanted, you’ll be able to tie it with kitchen twine to maintain every little thing properly sealed.
• In case your pork seems pale after cooking, switch it to a baking tray and broil it within the oven for about 10 minutes. 
• The steam trapped inside may cause burns in the event you’re not cautious. Enable the pork to chill barely earlier than dealing with, and use tongs or put on heat-resistant gloves when opening the bundle.

Two extra methods to place a pork shoulder within the sluggish cooker: our Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork cooks in sugar-free BBQ sauce, vinegar and hen broth, and our Weight Watchers Carnitas recipe makes use of a cumin, oregano and chili powder rub and recent orange juice.

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