Kapiolani Coffee Shop Oxtail Soup

Ox Tail Soup with grated ginger

My husband loves the ox tail soup at Kapiolani Coffee Shop in Aiea, Hawaii and only gets to eat it when he is visiting his dad. On his last visit he asked me if I could recreate it. After a few tries, he gave me the thumbs up. This is my version of the Kapiolani Coffee Shop Ox Tail Soup.

Kono’s Hawaiian Macaroni Potato Salad

There is nothing neutral about Hawaiian Macaroni Salad. You either love it (can’t get enough) or hate it (won’t touch it) and it usually isn’t eaten alone, it’s meant to clean your palate.

I know that I shouldn’t put mayonnaise laced dressing and clean your palate together in the same sentence-but it’s true! 

Most Hawaiian macaroni salads add straight mayonnaise, salt, pepper and sometimes… a pinch of sugar – I’m not a fan, but I know that many are. What I am a fan of is my husband’s dressing.

How to Cook Rice in a Pot

Calrose Rice/White Medium Grain

Growing up in Hawaii we cooked rice every night.  The basics were to use the plastic measuring cup that came with our rice cooker (which actually measures to 3/4 cup not a full cup) and fill the water to the designated line then press the button and you would have fresh hot rice in about 30 minutes.

Susan's Hawaiian Style Chili

I have loved to cook from when I was a small child, which resulted in numerous kitchen disasters, that thankfully didn't discourage me and became lessons instead.

One of the first things that I learned to cook was chili using a packet of chili seasoning.  It was easy and fool proof, all I had to do was brown the meat, add the chili packet, a can of tomato sauce, beans and water.  It really doesn't get easier than that! However, if I didn't have a package of chili seasoning in my pantry, I couldn't make chili. Until now!

Oven Lau Lau

This recipe reminds me of a scene from the movie “The Joy Luck Club”.  The aunties are playing mah jong and one of the younger niece’s states with confidence that she has played mah jong before with her Jewish friends in college.  The aunties glare at her and say with absolute conviction; “No-No”.  “That is Jewish mah jong, not Chinese mah jong.”  As if there is a difference…

There might not be any difference when it comes to mah jong but there is a clear difference between Hawaiian and Mainland Lau Lau’s. 

Lomi Lomi Salmon

Lucky me!  Visitors from Hawaii means lau lau’s for me from Young’s Fish Market (my absolute, hands down favorite!) and if I’m really lucky I get a bag of poi too!  So the only thing that’s missing is the Lomi Lomi Salmon and maybe… some Chicken Long Rice.

Chicken Long Rice

I’m not really sure why they call this dish “Long Rice” when it isn’t made with rice noodles.  Chicken long rice is made with bean threads (mung beans to be exact) that cook up clear and are extremely slippery.  Its still a mystery as to how to properly pick up these noodles without tossing all your manners out the window.  They slip and slide off your fork faster than you can get it to your mouth.  Its quite the challenge, but worth it.  So don’t confuse these noodles with rice noodles which are commonly used for pad thai.  They are completely different and are not a good substitute for this dish.

Tropics Dressing

Tropics Dressing is a "Made in Hawaii" french style dressing.

From what I understand this dressing was named after the original Tropics restaurant in Hawaii back in the 1960's and could possibly be the first time Hawaiians tasted french dressing.

This easy blender dressing is sure to please with its tangy sweet flavor.  I enjoy it drizzled over avocado slices, chicken salad, or tuna sandwiches. You can also mix in a little mayonnaise to make it more of a creamy french.

Pork or Chicken Adobo (Filipino)

Pork Adobo

Filipino adobo is a well loved plate lunch choice among the locals in Hawaii.  It’s an easy one pot meal of stewed pork or chicken and sometimes a combination of both.  Adobo gets its unique flavor from a handful of simple ingredients (soy sauce, vinegar and garlic) and works best with fattier cuts of pork like the shoulder, butt, spareribs or belly.  Pork loin would not be a good choice for this dish, it’s too lean.

Hamburger Jun - Korean Hamburger Patties

Hamburger Jun is the poor man’s version of MeatJun.  I think it was dreamt up in Hawaii because I haven't seen it anywhere else.  In my opinion, hamburger jun taste like a beef bulgogi burger with a meat jun finish.  Delish!

Pork Guisantes (Filipino Pork and Peas)

In Hawaii we enjoy many different cultures and the one common thread - is in the sharing of food.   Pork Guisantes is yet another one of those comfort foods that's simple to make and satisfying to eat.

In Spanish, guisantes [gee-sahn’-tay] translates into peas.  

What a beautiful way to say something so plain.

Filipino Pork and Peas is a one pot meal with tender bites of pork in a garlicy tomato sauce. 

Pork Guisantes (Filipino Pork with Peas)

2          pounds            pork butt, sliced

2          cloves              garlic, minced

1          med                 onion, chopped

1          8oz. can          tomato sauce

1          8oz. can          water

1          bay                  leaf
1         Tbs.                 patis (fish sauce)

1          tsp.                  kosher salt

¼         tsp.                  black pepper

1 ½      cups                frozen peas

4          oz. jar              pimentos or red peppers, sliced thin

1.    Heat about 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over med-high heat.  Add onions then garlic and sauté for 1 – 2 min.  Then add pork until browned. 

2.    Add tomato sauce, water, bay leaf, patis, salt and pepper; bring to a boil; lower heat and cover.  Cook for about 30 minutes or until meat is tender; stir occasionally.

3.    Add peas and pimentos or red pepper; cover and cook for about 2 - 3 minutes, just to heat the peas.

4.    Serve with rice.

Korean Beef Bulgogi

Korean style BBQ beef (Bulgogi) is very easy to make and has a wonderful balance of sweet and savory .  I got this recipe from my father in law about 25 years ago and have not made any changes to it, because its just that good.  Irresistible tender thin slices of beef rib-eye marinated in a garlicky soy sauce.  Once you have tried this dish you will become an instant fan.

What to do with Frozen Poi?

If you live on the mainland and have a craving for poi, good luck!

Nah only joking.

Fresh Wild Ahi Tuna

Sashimi grade Ahi tuna at the Eugene Costco?  Yup, someone on the "inside" must have had a plan for this chunk of gold, but I got hold of it first and I wasn't going to leave without it.  The minute I spotted it I knew that there was going to be some deliciousness in my kitchen tonight.

My Pinakbet

I was at the Asian market and saw long green beans next to the eggplant and immediately started to crave pinakbet, or at least a more subtle version of it.  I love the flavors and textures of this dish.  I’m not Filipino or very fond of bitter mellon or okra which I know is traditional but I love the stewed vegetable combination flavored with fish sauce.

Baked Chicken Adobo

Filipino adobo is a simple blend of tangy vinegar, salty soy sauce and a punch of garlic, with a touch of S&P, a bay leaf and a bit of waiting time. That’s all it takes to make this easy pantry ready meal that always gets great reviews. When I say I’m making adobo, my family always gets excited which I find interesting, considering how basic it is.

Portuguese Bean Soup

If there is one soup that represents Hawaii it would be the infamous Portuguese Bean Soup, a richly flavored ham broth kicked up several notches with the distinctly unique flavor of Portuguese sausage and laced with a light tomato flavor. If that’s not enough to get your taste buds tingling, how about the addition of onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, kidney beans and cabbage? This is definitely a soup, but could easily be mistaken as a stew, because of all the hearty chunks of goodness in it.

Hawaiian Style Shoyu Chicken

Everyone in Hawaii has their own family recipe for shoyu chicken.  My recipe has a Chinese twist with the addition of star anise giving the sauce a gentle hint of licorice, if you are not a fan of licorice, which I am not, don’t be afraid to add this layer of flavor. One little star anise wakes up the sauce in a way that no other spice can.

Hawaiian Style Slow Cooker Baked Beans

I make baked beans once a year and it is usually for the first BBQ of the season.  The one thing that defines our family BBQ’s is a big pot of sweet and savory Hawaiian inspired baked beans with Portuguese sausage, better known as Linguica outside of Hawaii.

Hawaiian Chinese Spaghetti

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My husband named this Hawaiian Chinese Spaghetti because you won't get it anywhere else except from someone who is Chinese who grew up in Hawaii.  At least that is what he thinks.