Sure, getting the opportunity to see all the breathtaking sights and experiencing the rich culture of the Hawaii islands is a once in a lifetime opportunity. But the icing on the cake, so to speak, of an ultimate Hawaiian getaway, is relishing the chance to enlighten your taste buds with the incredible local cuisine that’s available. Of course, you don’t have to always go out and spend money at a fancy restaurant to truly understand the rich taste of the islands. Here are a few quintessential Hawaiian recipes you can serve up within the comfort of your Hawaiian vacation rental:
Appetizers
Every exquisite meal needs something to tie hungry guests over, and fortunately there are plenty of excellent Hawaiian appetizers and sides that are quite scrumptious without being too filling. A great dish to cook up before the main entree is pipikaula skewers, essentially the Hawaiian equivalent to beef jerky, but with a tropical twist. All you’ll need to get started on these is the following:
- A few pounds of flank steak
- Peppers or onions for grilling
- 2 tbsp Hawaiian salt
- ½ tbsp sugar
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- Fresh ginger, crushed
- Red chili pepper, crushed (for spice lovers)
Pipikaula skewers are an excellent appetizer to kick the meal off.Slice up the flank steak into bite-size pieces so that they fit perfectly for a skewer. Stir up all the other ingredients and let the beef settle into the mix to marinate overnight. If you have a grill, fire it up the next day and heat up the steak, peppers and onions. If not, place the beef on a cookie sheet and let it warm up in the oven. After you’ve got the meat and veggies heated up, stick them on a skewer and wow your guests while the main entree is being prepared.
Main course
While there are many exotic dishes you can serve that embody the tangy and tropical flavors Hawaii is so well known for, it’s a good idea to keep things simple for your first attempt at recreating the local cuisine. An easy-to-make recipe that’s sure to be a proper introduction to the rich taste of the islands is some old-fashioned teriyaki beef or chicken, served with a side of rice and salad. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
- 3-4 pounds chicken or beef
- 3 stalks green onion, finely chopped
- 2/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons pineapple or orange juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece ginger, crushed
- Chopped cilantro
Just like the pipikaula skewers, soak the chicken or beef overnight in the sauce after you’ve mixed all the ingredients in a bowl, except the onions and cilantro. Once the meat has had a chance to marinate overnight, grill or bake the coated meat and start chopping up the onions and cilantro. Cook up some hearty rice and prepare a salad to accompany the dish, and once your meat is done cooking, top it off with the onions and cilantro, and prepare your taste buds for this authentic Hawaiian recipe.
“Nothing screams Hawaiian like pineapple cupcakes for dessert.”
Dessert
Of course, no Hawaiian meal is complete without treating guests at your Hawaiian vacation rental with some delicious dessert. If you want some serious Hawaiian flavor, whip up some quick and easy pineapple cupcakes. All you’ll need is muffin or cupcake mix, canned or sliced pineapple, butter, brown sugar and some cherries to top them off with. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and blend the cupcake mix together. Pour the mix into each individual space and bake for at least seven to 10 minutes. After the bread has been baked, spread some butter on the top of each one and sprinkle some brown sugar over them. Next, cut out the pineapples so they fit perfectly around the muffin or cupcake base, and stick a cherry right in the middle of the cupcake. After you’ve added the fruit, let them cool off for a bit and they should be ready to go!