Puna 'Ulu Festival - Cooking Contest Recipe - 'Aina Lasagna

 

 

Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School at Pū'āla'a on Red Road in Lower Puna

on the Island of Hawai'i was the host for a day of celebrating everything 'ulu on Saturday, March 3rd. 

 

A part of the event was the Cooking Contest where every recipe required that 'ulu be the main ingredient.

 

The Cooking Contest Categories were, Appetizers, Entrée and Desserts.

Each entry was judged for: Best Use of Breadfruit; Taste; Appearance/Presentation, Originality and Healthiest Ingredients.

 

 

 

The following recipe was the 3rd Place Winner in the Entrée Category

 

‘Aina Lasagna

1 small to medium ‘ulu

1 pound wild boar meat (or pork)
8 large taro leaves
1 medium onion
Meat of 2 coconuts
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 1/2 cups coconut water
2 Tablespoons palm oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Garnish: Sweet bell pepper slices or rings

Cook the boar meat in crock pot, preferably overnight for maximum tenderness with a little salt. Shred when cool. 

Peel and remove the core of ‘ulu. Slice it thinly with a mandoline or similar slicer. The ideal thickness is like a deli slice of cheese. Coat the ‘ulu slices thoroughly with palm oil and salt. 

Boil taro leaves whole in water for 20 minutes. Strain and allow cooling. Large mince/chop half the portion of taro leaves and set aside in mixing bowl. In a food processor add remaining steamed taro leaves, cilantro, coconut meat, onion, and salt and pepper. Blend thoroughly adding coconut water bit by bit until well blended. Add to minced taro leaves and stir until mixed. 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 

Layer the taro mixture, ‘ulu, and boar meat in a baking pan, ending with taro mixture on top. For best results, do not layer more than 2 inches high. Garnish with sweet pepper rings or slices coated in palm oil on top. 

Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for 30-45 minutes more. 

Serves 8 

Entry by Celeste Aleah, Pahoa  

Notes:

'aina - land

'aina lasagna - lasagna 'of the land'

'ulu - Hawaiian word for breadfruit

 

 

To learn more about breadfruit, please visit the Breadfruit Institute site of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, 

For more articles and recipe from the Puna Breadfruit Festival, please visit the following links:

 

The Revitalization of Breadfruit

The Puna 'Ulu Festival - Cooking Contest Recipe - BOS

The Puna 'Ulu Festival - Cooking Contest Recipe - Healthiest Choice

The Puna 'Ulu Festival - Cooking Contest Recipes - 'Ulu Chips and 'Ulu Dip

The Puna 'Ulu Festival - Cooking Contest Recipe - 'Ulu Quiche with Ginger Chutney

 

The Puna 'Ulu Festival - Cooking Contest Recipe - 'Ulu Custard Pie

 

More recipes to follow