Kalua Pork Sauce Recipe

Are you done looking for a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce with moderate spice? Then stop your search right here! The Kalua Pork Sauce Recipe is so simple that you’ll stop buying regular barbecue sauce from the store. 

Today’s Hawaiian sauce recipe will give you tropical freshness and vibrance in flavors. It is a pineapple and ketchup-based BBQ sauce mixed with other chosen ingredients to add intense flavor to your BBQ meat. This sweet and tangy barbecue sauce is perfect for summer cookouts and grilling.

Excited to give it a try? Tag along!

Kalua Pork Sauce Ingredients:

This sauce for Kalua pork is a perfect combination of spicy and sweet flavors. Pineapple and Lilikoi make it candied and tangy. Cayenne pepper gives the needed spiciness. Ketchup and honey give it a rich texture.

Ready to take your taste buds to Hawaii? Here’s an outline of the ingredients you will need to make this Hawaiian BBQ sauce: 

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar has a pungent taste with a strong vinegary aroma. Use ½ cup of apple cider vinegar in the sauce recipe.

Ketchup:

Tomato ketchup is something that is found in everyone’s fridge. Use 1 cup of any kind of tomato ketchup available at home. 

Pineapple Juice:

Use 1 cup of fresh pineapple juice for all those tangy, sweet, tropical flavors.

Liquid Smoke:

To add smokiness to the sauce add 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke. You can find liquid smoke in most grocery stores.

Soy Sauce:

Soy sauce is sour and salty giving richness and depth in flavors. Use 1 tablespoon in the recipe.

Hawaiian Sea Salt:

Hawaiian salt is richer in minerals than table salt. Add 1 teaspoon or according to taste.

Cayenne Pepper:

Coarsely crushed cayenne pepper is a must-use ingredient to add spiciness to this Hawaiian BBQ sauce. Use 1 teaspoon of red cayenne pepper in the recipe.

Garlic Powder:

Garlic powder is a good way to add savory flavor to any recipe without using fresh ones. Add garlic powder to the sauce to make it extra spicy and delicious. Use 1 teaspoon of it in the recipe.

Honey:

Honey gives sweetness and improves the texture of the sauce. Use 1 tablespoon or more if you want the sauce sugary.

Lilikoi Juice:

Lilikoi juice is found from Lilikoi or passion fruit. It’s sweet and tart, having a nice tangy aroma. Use 1 cup of freshly squeezed Lilikoi juice in the recipe.

Worcestershire Sauce:

Worcestershire sauce tastes tangy, sweet, and salty. It comes from fermented anchovies and is especially used for adding the umami flavor. Use 1 teaspoon in the recipe.

How To Make Hawaiian BBQ Sauce?

Kalua pork sauce is the best Hawaiian BBQ sauce with pork, chicken, or whatever you crave. It has apple cider vinegar in the ingredient list, so you don’t have to worry about longevity. Try it the next time you grill pork or spread it over your rice and sauteed vegetables. So without wasting any time, let’s describe how to make it in 2 easy steps: 

Step 1:

Put all the ingredients except Lilikoi juice together in a saucepan. Whisk the mixture well and boil until the sauce achieves the desired thickness. Lower the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.

Step 2:

Add the Lilikoi juice in this step and reduce the sauce to 2 cups. Adjust the salt and pepper if needed. Your Kalua pork sauce recipe is ready to serve.

Recipe Tips & Notes:

• If you like BBQ sauce spicier, then add 1 additional spoonful of Cayenne pepper.

• Use apple cider vinegar instead of regular white vinegar for authentic taste. Vinegar keeps your sauce intact for a longer period. So don’t skip this ingredient. 

• Try to use raw honey in your sauce to have a robust flavor.

• If you don’t have garlic powder available at home, you can use freshly minced garlic directly in the sauce. 

• You can store the sauce in the refrigerator and enjoy it for up to 3 weeks.

• The sauce is freezer-friendly too! You can also keep it in the freezer in a zip-lock bag for up to 3 months.

• Lilikoi fruits are found in grocery stores. It’s a must-use ingredient to give that tropical touch to flavors.

• The sauce is safe for all except for people with pineapple sensitivity.
• Feel free to double or triple the ingredients and make a larger batch. So you can enjoy it anytime you crave.

Final Words:

Want some tasty, sweet, and spicy Kalua pork for dinner? Our homemade Hawaiian BBQ sauce recipe is fresh, easy, and flavorful. You can pair this Kalua pork sauce with Lilikoi, Lau lau, cabbage, rice, and other Hawaiian foods. 

This spicy and sweet Kalua pork sauce tastes much better than your store-bought BBQ sauce. Best of all, you can make it with cheap ingredients, and no preservatives are used. Try the recipe at home, I bet you’ll be a fan of it.