When people visit Hawaii, they not only fall in love with its exceptional beaches, but also with its huge selection of flavorful and mouthwatering dishes. Travelers of any descent will certainly love Hawaiian cuisine because it is a delicious blend of European, Asian, and American flavors.
The word luau is normally associated with the famous celebrations held in this state. But guests might be surprised to know that there is actually a Hawaiian treat called Luau and it tastes wonderful. A luau recipe could actually contain either squid or chicken. What locals do is to wrap the chicken or squid with baked taro leaves and then coconut cream or milk is poured over them for added zest.
Tourists should also sample Ahi, one of Hawaii’s renowned delicacies. It is a yellow fin tuna that is usually served and eaten raw, similar to sushi or kimchi. Because there has been a decline in the quantity of blue fin tuna, yellow fin tuna has been substituted in making Ahi.
The Laulau is also a favorite among returning visitors to Hawaii. It is made up of salmon or butterfish plus one’s pick among chicken, beef, or pork that is covered again in taro leaves. The secret in making this dish absolutely divine is the time the Laulau spends steaming in an imu (a traditional underground oven), which can range from three to four hours.
The imu is also used when slowly cooking the famous Kalua Pig, which tastes salty and smoky at the same time. This dish has never failed to be included in any luau festival. The main ingredient of this celebrated cuisine is the butt meat of the pig, which is enclosed in banana leaves. It may sound a bit strange but once a person takes a bite of its juicy meat, he will want more.
Of course, Hawaii is also proud of its desserts. The Haupia is one of the state’s offerings to those who want to cure their dessert cravings. It is a pudding-like square bar measuring 2 inches and then topped off with toasted coconut.
The Shave Ice of Hawaii is well-known around the world. It looks similar to a snow cone but the ice used for Shave Ice is finer. One can choose from a lot of flavors such as lime, vanilla, orange, root beer, coconut, and even bubblegum! Because there is an array of flavors to please different palates, people of all ages love this incredible treat.
Hawaii truly has a rich tradition. Due to the fusion of cultures in this state, their food has also become a mixture of different cuisines. Because of this, Hawaiian fare became one of a kind and more importantly, extremely delectable.
(image courtesy of skyseeker at Flickr)
Sun, Feb 15, 2009
Cuisine