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Hawaiian Laulau

Hawaiian laulau recipe: tender pork and butterfish wrapped in fragrant taro leaves and steamed until silky, the ultimate taste of a backyard luau in Hawaii.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Laulau is one of the oldest dishes in Hawaii, born from the Polynesian voyagers who brought taro, pigs, and the tradition of cooking in earth ovens. Wrapping seasoned pork and salted butterfish in taro leaves and steaming them for hours transforms simple ingredients into something deeply savory and silky.

What makes laulau so beloved is the contrast of textures and flavors: the rich, salty pork, the custardy butterfish, and the earthy taro leaves that soften into a spinach-like green. Homemade laulau is a labor of love, but the reward is a bundle of pure comfort that tastes like a family gathering.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Rinse the taro leaves and pat dry. Season the pork and butterfish generously with Hawaiian sea salt.
  2. Layer 3 to 4 taro leaves, place a portion of pork and butterfish in the center, and fold the leaves into a tight bundle.
  3. Wrap each bundle in a ti leaf (or parchment and foil) to hold it together.
  4. Place the bundles in a large pot with a steamer basket and add the water. Cover and steam over medium heat for 3 to 4 hours, adding water as needed, until the pork is fall-apart tender.
  5. Let rest 10 minutes before unwrapping. Serve hot with rice and a pinch of Hawaiian salt.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Taro leaves must be cooked thoroughly, never tasted raw, as they contain compounds that cooking neutralizes. If you cannot find taro leaves, Swiss chard works in a pinch, though the flavor will be milder.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
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 →