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    Home » Mains » Pasta, Rice and Casseroles » Hawaiian Luau Rice

    Hawaiian Luau Rice

    Published: Jul 28, 2013 · Modified: Feb 5, 2021 by HWC Magazine · 113 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Hawaiian Luau Rice / https://www.hwcmagazine.com

    Hawaiian Luau Rice is a little sweet, a little savory and little bit tropical and the perfect cure for the dog days of summer.

    Hawaiian Luau Rice

    We have had about 2 weeks of non-stop rain in Hong Kong. Sideways rain is the worst, especially when waiting for the bus. Men in business suits with their trousers sticking to their legs and women who thought is was a good idea to wear a white blouse are now thinking twice about their fashion choices on rainy days. However today, I see for the first time a little blue sky and break in the clouds.

    Here is a view from inside a sampan riding near the Aberdeen fishing village. As you can see the sky is still pretty cloudy but occasionally there is a little bit of blue shining through.

    Aberdeen

    Have you even had a ride in a sampan boat? Well lets put it this way, you are in a mighty little boat compared to all of those big cargo ships and if you are prone to seasickness then this is not your mode of transport. Are you in need of any dried fish parts for your recipes?

    Aberdeen

    How about some wine to settle your stomach for the sampan ride?

    Aberdeen

    Aberdeen

    I thought not so lets get on with the recipe...

    Hawaiian Luau Rice

    Sometimes, I need to close my eyes and think of a happy place in order to make these dull and rainy days go away. That happy place is always some place warm and tropical with white sand beaches, clear water, and plenty of sunshine. Having your own virtual vacation to Hawaii, is the perfect cure for those long dog rainy days. So crack out those coconut bras and grass skirts and lets get cooking.

    Hawaiian Luau Rice

    Hawaiian Luau rice is a fun and easy tropical side dish that goes perfect with fish, chicken or just by itself. You can go on your own mini little vacation right here in your own kitchen. If it helps set the mood, put on a little Jimmy Buffett music and pour yourself a Mai Tai and have a little luau.

    Hawaiian Luau Rice

    Hawaiian Luau Rice is a little sweet, a little savory and little bit tropical and the perfect cure for the dog days of summer. This is a great little dish to bring for a dish to pass at a gathering or for your own gathering at home as it really is a nice accompaniment to so many dishes such. If you are looking for a main dish to go with your Hawaiian Luau rice, please check out Sensational Summer Citrus Salmon  or maybe even our Tropical Spa Mango Chicken or even our Peking Glazed Beer Butt Chicken .

    You are also going to love this Lemon Rice recipe from Masala Herb with a fantastic step by step video.

    Hawaiian Luau Rice

    Hawaiian Luau rice is always best cooked with day old long basmati rice. Please take a click here to gather the basic concepts of making Pantry Fried Rice.

    Hawaiian Luau Rice

    We just made another bowl this mid morning as was having a craving and this time made with "red rice" instead of basmati. It was mighty fine. Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend.

    Hungry For More? Subscribe to our Newsletter and follow along on Facebook, You Tube, Instagram, and Pinterest for all the latest updates.

    Hawaiian Luau Rice

    Hawaiian Luau Rice is a little sweet, a little savory and little bit tropical and the perfect cure for the dog days of summer.
    4.96 from 23 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Sides
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 255kcal
    Author: HWC Magazine

    Ingredients

    • 1 cups basmati rice
      or 2 cups cooked leftover rice of choice
    • 1.5 cups water
      skip this ingredient if you already have cooked rice.
    • 2 tablespoon coconut oil
      (your rice will really soak up the coconut oil quickly so use a non-stick pan)
    • ½ cup onion chopped
    • 1 teaspoon ginger
      freshly grated ginger (or can substitute with ¼ teaspoon dried ground)
    • 2 cloves garlic
      minced
    • ½ cup ham
      sliced thinly ( I used deli ham but you can exchange with spam or fresh ham)
    • ½ cup desiccated coconut shredded (Can use fresh coconut shredded)
    • 1 teaspoon chicken powder
      (gluten free) 1-2 teaspoons to taste (this is chicken bouillon in the powdered form) - you can also use chicken bouillon cubes and just crush into a powder and you can add to taste.
    • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
      or to taste
    • 1 cup pineapple
      chopped fresh (can exchange with canned)
    • macadamia nuts -
      toasted crushed garnish - optional
    • 2 tablespoon green onions - 2 tablespoons chopped for garnish - optional
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • The day or two before, wash your rice thoroughly. Add 1 cup of basmati rice and 1.5 cups of water to your pan and cover and simmer for 12 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Fluff rice with fork. One cup of basmati rice when cooked will yield about 2 and ¾ cup rice. Allow rice to completely cool and place in the refrigerator over night. (You can use other leftover rice as well like Jasmine or short grain rice.)
    • Toast your coconut in a non-stick skillet until in is toasty brown. Set aside.
    • Toast the macadamia nuts in a dry pan until toasty. Chop coarsely. Set aside. (optional)
    • Place your coconut oil, onions, garlic, ginger in the pan until aromatic. Add the ham and cook quickly until lightly golden.
    • Add your cooked basmati rice, chicken powder and white pepper and mix quickly in your pan until all of the rice is covered evenly with the coconut oil and seasoning. Add the pineapple, green onions and toasted coconut back into the pan and continue stirring quickly, just until warmed. Reserve a little toasted coconut and green onions on the side for garnishing.
    • Serve on plate and garnish with toasted crushed macademia nuts, toasted coconut and green onions. Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    Feel free to use any kind of left over rice you desire for this recipe. Cold leftover rice works best for making fried rice so that the rice does not stick together. 
    We used chicken powder whilst living in Hong Kong as that is what is generally available. However, you can use a chicken bouillon that has been crushed so that it easily mixes with the rice. If you are following a gluten free diet , make sure your chicken bouillon is gluten-free.  
    We used unsweetened desiccated coconut for this recipe. Toasting the coconut in a dry pan really adds loads of flavor to this recipe. 
    In addition, we also toasted macadamia nuts and then crushed them and garnished our recipe with it. However, this is an optional item. 
    Feel free to use either fresh or canned pineapple for this Hawaiian Luau Recipe. 
    We used leftover spiral ham. However, feel free to use ham lunchmeat or even spam in a pinch. After all, they would be using spam in Hawaii. 
    If you like to use a fresh pineapple, be sure to check out our post How to Cut a Fresh Pineapple to learn how to do this in under 5 minutes with minimal waste. However, you can use canned pineapple chunks as well. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 337mg | Potassium: 205mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag us @HWCMagazine or hastag us #HWCMagazine!

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      Instant Pot Black Rice Pilaf
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    About HWC Magazine

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.96 from 23 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Robyn says

      July 29, 2013 at 1:26 am

      Oh wow, Bam! That is so beautiful looking, I HAVE to make it. I love rice and I love dreaming about Hawaii. I've been to Kauai many times and it's heavenly. Thanks for the great idea and inspiring photos.

      Reply
    2. Dawn says

      July 29, 2013 at 12:06 am

      Looks delicious!! I think we have taken all the nice weather from you...we have been so lucky this summer!!

      Reply
    3. Jo (http://blog-diggidy.com) says

      July 28, 2013 at 8:06 pm

      It's been cold and rainy for a couple, three days here, too. This dish sounds like the perfect thing to snuggle up with a blanket on the couch with and nibble on... 🙂 xo

      Reply
    4. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

      July 28, 2013 at 1:14 pm

      I'll take the rice dish any day before the snake bile wine. 🙂 Do they make extra large coconuts? If so, I'm in!

      Reply
      • Healthy World Cuisine says

        July 28, 2013 at 11:39 pm

        Maureen, you are so funny. I really can't believe people really drink this snake bile wine. The thought of it gets my gag reflux going. I am most certain they have extra large coconuts and will start you off with a pina colada while we make the rice.

        Reply
    5. john@kitchenriffs says

      July 28, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      I'm delighted to say I've never heard of, much less tasted, snake bile wine! I think I'll pass on that. But I won't pass on this great rice dish! I've made something similar in the past, and it's really good. Love the photos, the closeup in particular (I'm a sucker for closeups). Fun post, and I'm glad the weather seems to be drying out.

      Reply
      • Coffee and Crumpets says

        July 29, 2013 at 8:22 am

        I was almost sure John, that you would take up the challenge with the snake bile wine. Maybe a cocktail? 😉

        Nazneen

        Reply
    6. Danny @ 1227 Foster says

      July 28, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      Love your postings and being able to get glimpses of life in Hong Kong 🙂 And your fried rice looks so tempting -- definitely helps to take you away from all that rainy weather!

      Reply
    7. nancyc says

      July 28, 2013 at 3:50 pm

      This looks delicious–a great summer dish!

      Reply
    8. kellysiew says

      July 28, 2013 at 2:02 pm

      Eeeeek snake bile! No thank you! On the other hand yes please to luau, ham and pineapple are e perfect combination. Yum!

      Reply
    9. thecompletecookbook says

      July 28, 2013 at 1:57 pm

      Sop pleased you have some sunshine now Bam. LOVE the rice recipe, the wine...not so much.
      Have a happy week ahead.
      🙂 Mandy xo

      Reply
    10. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says

      July 28, 2013 at 11:52 am

      You managed to step over the rain Bam! Endless rainy or humid days are just plain annoying. This is a wonderful rice dish!

      Reply
    11. Martyna @ Wholesome Cook says

      July 28, 2013 at 10:52 am

      Hi Bobbi, I've been known to wear a grass skirt once or twice in my life, but no coconut bras... I imagine then to be quite uncomfortable, and honestly, I think they would do a much better job as bowls for this AMAZING rice! Thanks for sharing, yum!

      Reply
    12. rabbitcancook says

      July 28, 2013 at 7:49 am

      The dish looks very summer and tropical and definitely something to brighten up a dull day. Wish you have a great Sunday.
      Cheers

      Reply
    13. All You Do Is Eat says

      July 28, 2013 at 7:08 am

      Oh my gosh I HAVE TO MAKE THIS. It looks so delicious and looking at your photos I can almost taste it! Beautiful

      Reply
    14. The Mouse says

      July 28, 2013 at 7:07 am

      Haven't heard about Hawaiian Luau Rice before. Interesting. Sounds a little like Hawaiian pizza, ham and pineapple.

      Reply
    15. Eha says

      July 28, 2013 at 4:35 am

      'We are going to the hukilau,
      to the huki- to the huki- to the hukilau . . .
      Everybody loves the hukilau.
      Where the lau-lau is the kaukau at the big luau . . .'

      How's that for one who just loves the Islands: how can you not when there is an 'Eha Street' on most of them 🙂 ! [And, yes, yes: I have probably made a mistake with the lyrics, but Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra way back when {well, they were older!} thought I danced it best!!!!]. A fun recipe on a Sunday afternoon: thank you Bobbi!!

      Reply
      • Healthy World Cuisine says

        July 28, 2013 at 11:35 pm

        That was lovely Eha! I can almost imagine you in a grass skirt and flower lei singing your little heart out with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. A great way to start out the weekend. Take Care, BAM

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

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