Pipikaula, like many dishes in Hawaii, is the results of a number of cultures colliding. First, let’s discuss how beef grew to become a part of the Hawaiian food plan, since cows will not be native to the islands. In 1793, well-known British Navy explorer George Vancouver gifted King Kamehameha I (the chief who first united the Hawaiian islands) a bull and 5 cows; the king positioned a kapu (Hawaiian taboo) on the looking of those cattle and their descendants that lasted by means of 1830; by 1845 there have been an estimated 25,000 feral cattle on the large island of Hawaii.
John Palmer Parker, an American who allegedly first arrived in Hawaii in 1809 by leaping off of a ship (there’s most likely an excellent story there), rapidly gained the favor of King Kamehameha I upon his notorious arrival. In 1815, after a little bit of journey, he returned to Hawaii with a state-of-the-art American musket; the king gave him the dignity of looking the primary cattle in Hawaii. Over the following 20 years, he helped to skinny the variety of feral cattle on the island, and was gifted some land as compensation. Parker based Parker Ranch in 1847, one of many oldest and largest ranches in the US, with 250,000 acres that stay as we speak.
To assist handle livestock, Parker introduced in cowboys (Vaqueros) from present-day California (Mexico on the time); these cowboys have been known as Paniolo (a Hawaiian pronunciation of the phrase “Español“), and the identify sticks as we speak. The Paniolos would dry strips of beef within the solar, to chew on whereas driving cattle; this meals was ultimately named Pipikaula (actually “beef rope”). To taste the meat, they’d use soy sauce, because it was domestically out there due to Chinese language and Japanese immigrants.
In order that’s how Pipikaula got here to be, by means of a becoming a member of of Hawaiian, British, American, Mexican, Chinese language, and Japanese cultures. Right now, Pipikaula is served in Hawaiian eating places and typically at luaus. It’s generally dried in wire bins within the solar, or by hanging it to dry, then broiled or pan-fried earlier than serving. The recipe that I’m sharing as we speak is modeled after my spouse’s favourite Hawaiian restaurant, Helena’s Hawaiian Meals, on N. King Avenue in Honolulu. For effectivity’s sake, we’ll dry the meat in an oven and pan-fry it to a crisp.
Pipikaula (Paleo, Primal, Gluten-free, Excellent Well being Weight loss plan)
Marinade:
4 cloves garlic, minced
1″ ginger, peeled and minced (or 1 tsp floor ginger)
1/2 cup tamari or 2/3 cup coconut aminos
2 tbsp coconut palm sugar or 3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp Hawaiian salt (or sea salt)
1/4 cup mirin, sake, or different rice wine (dry sherry okay)
2 tsp white pepper
1 tsp purple pepper flakes
1 tsp Tabasco sauce or different sizzling sauce
4-5 lbs cross-cut quick ribs or flank steak, minimize into skinny strips
2 tbsp coconut oil
1. Mix the marinade components. Lower the quick ribs between every bone piece, to type 2″ lengthy items. Mix the quick ribs and the marinade in a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate for no less than 6 hours, in a single day most well-liked. Flip the bag periodically.
2. Preheat your oven to 170F. Lay the quick ribs throughout a baking sheet lined with a cooling rack (you may as well line the sheet with tin foil to make it simpler to wash). Bake within the middle of the oven, with the oven door cracked open a number of inches, till principally dry (a bit wetter than beef jerky), about 6 hours.
3. Retailer within the fridge, in a resealable plastic bag lined with paper towels, for up a to week. To serve, warmth the coconut oil in a skillet over medium warmth for about 2 minutes, then add the Pipikaula; pan-fry till browned and the fats begins to render (much like how bacon appears because it completed cooking), about 1 minute per aspect, then drain on paper towels and serve.
** Frequent accompaniments to Pipikaula embody sliced candy onion, coarse-ground Hawaiian salt, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Kalua Pig, and Poi (right here is my recipe for Candy Potato Poi).
** Cross-cut quick ribs are typically arduous to search out, and may carry all types of names, from flanken minimize, to LA fashion. Right here is an effective information on the completely different quick rib cuts.
