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Hawaiian Lomi Salmon

Hawaiian lomi salmon recipe: chilled salted salmon tossed with ripe tomatoes and sweet onion, the bright, briny relish served at every luau in Hawaii.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 Hawaii KitchenCategory
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Lomi salmon, or lomi-lomi salmon, is a traditional Hawaiian side dish made by rubbing, or lomi-ing, salted salmon with tomatoes and onions. It arrived with Western traders who introduced salted fish, and Hawaiians quickly made it their own with garden-ripe tomatoes.

What makes it great is its refreshing contrast: salty, silky salmon against juicy, tangy tomatoes, all chilled and served cold. It cuts through rich luau foods like kalua pork and laulau like nothing else.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Rinse the salted salmon and soak it in cold water for 2 to 4 hours, changing the water twice, to remove excess salt.
  2. Drain and dice the salmon into small pieces, discarding any skin and bones.
  3. In a bowl, gently combine the salmon, tomatoes, onion, and green onions.
  4. Add the ice water and Hawaiian salt to taste, then chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Do not skip the soak, the salmon must be tamed to pleasantly salty, not overpowering. Serve well chilled with kalua pork and poi.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
CategoryHawaii Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →