Hawaiian recipe for Chicken Pulehu
Chicken Pulehu with peanut sauce. Marta Lane photo
This Hawaiian recipe for chicken pulehu is sweet, smoky, juicy and spicy. In Hawaii, pulehu means grilled. This simple dish can easily be made by visitors who stay in vacation rentals because most properties have barbeques. Wood skewers can be cheaply purchased at Ace Hardware. Limes and ginger are available at Kauai farmers markets and the rest of the ingredients can be purchased at any grocery store. We like the sweet and spicy combination of the sauce which is made with two local products. Of course if you live here, this makes a satisfying weekend dinner. Serves 4.
- 1 can coconut milk
- 4 teaspoons lime juice, divided
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound organic boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into thirds
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 tablespoons Tiny Isle macadamia nut honey butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Black Dog Farms Burnin’ Mac hot sauce
Combine 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon lime juice, brown sugar, fish sauce, ginger, curry powder and garlic in a Ziploc bag. Add chicken, seal and refrigerate for two hours. Soak eight wooden skewers in water while chicken marinades.
In a small pan, add 2 tablespoons coconut milk, 1/3 cup water, macadamia nut honey butter, soy sauce, and Black Dog Farms hot sauce and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the macadamia nut butter has dissolved, remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of lime juice.
remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade. Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Thread chicken pieces onto skewers and grill for 2 minutes on each side. Serve with a salad or grilled broccoli and steamed rice or flatbread.