Hawaiian food may have a blend of seasonings.
Hawaiian recipes are influenced by nearby Asian countries, the contiguous United States and the islands' own local ingredients. Many Hawaiian recipes use commonly used American seasonings, such as garlic, mustard and pepper to embellish their traditional seasonings. Luau recipes are particularly popular, adding fresh fruit, fish and roasted pig. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Hawaiian Produce Spices
Hawaiians make use of seasonings and ingredients grown on their island farms. Locally grown spices include allspice (Pimenta officinalis), which although native to the West Indies and South America, is easily grown in Hawaii and used in fish and chicken dishes and desserts. Cloves (Eugenia aromatica) are used in ham dishes at luaus and in homes and restaurants.
Hawaii-Grown Herbs
Herbs are grown in Hawaii that are used in local dishes. Curry leaf tree (Murraya koenigii) is used in beef, chicken dishes and vegetarian dishes. Grown in the Hawaiian rainforest, the yerba mate leaf (Ilex paraguayensis) is touted to have rejuvenating properties and is used as a flavoring for drinks, such as teas and lattes.
Asian Seasonings
Soy sauce (shoyu) is added to ingredients that require the oriental soy flavoring in Hawaii. Mochiko is a finely milled Japanese rice flour that has a sweet taste, which is added to main dishes and desserts that call for flour. A Japanese radish called diakon is found adding some heat to Hawaiian recipes, such as the Korean dish, kim chee. Other Hawaiian kim chee recipes call for freshly ground ginger root. Crystalized ginger gives a pungent flavor to dessert recipes, such as stuffed lychees. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), found in Asian cuisine, brings out flavor. Another Japanese flavoring that is a favorite of Hawaiians is furikake, which is a condiment made of flaked and ground fish. Hawaiians sprinkle it on food for some ocean flavor.
Hawaiian Poi
Although the taro plant is found in many places on Earth, only the Hawaiians use it to make poi. Cooked in an underground oven, called an imu, the taro root is pounded into the commonly used Hawaiian seasoning called poi, which is a paste that can be thinned with water and served with recipes of fish and vegetables.
Hawaiian Salts
Hawaiian salts contain other ingredients for seasoning. The Alaea sea salt is so prevalent it is used as table salt. The alaea, which is volcanic red clay, is added to the salt harvested from the ocean to enrich it with iron oxide. The added color from the clay enhances the exotic appeal.
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