Huli Huli Chicken

In the mood to try something different on your grill? Do you want something that is fun to cook, delicious to eat, and will impress you, your family, and your friends? Well then, we have something for you. Don’t look now, but straight from the islands is Huli Huli Chicken coming your way!

“Huli” is the Hawaiian word for “spin.” Ernest Morgado “invented” Huli Huli chicken in 1955 when he was roasting a batch of chicken for some farmers using his mother’s marinade recipe. It was such a success that he registered the trademark with the Territory of Hawaii in 1958 and with the US Government in 1965. Morgado would cook the chicken between two grills and when one side was done, someone would yell “Huli” and the grills were flipping. on.

The dish has become a legend in Hawaii, where it is often sold at charity fundraisers. It has also launched many commercial brands of salsa and has even inspired a song called Huli Huli Chicken by the group The Barefoot Natives.

Fortunately, you don’t need to use two grills to make your own backyard version of this great-tasting dish (although we recommend yelling “huli huli” when you flip the chicken). Instead, a charcoal barbecue will do quite well; we use a Big Green Egg, for example. You’ll need to get some mesquite chips, if you don’t already have them, and then the ingredients for the following recipe:

a chopped chicken

1/2 cup of frozen pineapple concentrate

1/2 cup of soy sauce

1/4 cup tomato sauce

1 piece of finely grated ginger

3 garlic cloves, crushed

3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Mix the ingredients together and use about half to marinate the chicken for at least an hour. Reserve the rest for basting the chicken when it is on the grill. Meanwhile, soak the mesquite flakes in water for about 20 minutes. Heat your barbecue to the 300 to 350 degree range, apply your pre-soaked mesquite chips, and proceed to flip and baste the chicken every 5 minutes until done, about an hour. Oh, and don’t forget to yell “huli huli” when you flip the chicken!

Once you taste Huli Huli Chicken, you’ll understand what the fuss is about. The chicken is tender, succulent, and flavorful without being overpowering. When we have it, the chicken is eaten clean to the bone. It’s really that good! It also lends itself well to entertaining; for example, you can use it as a centerpiece for your own Luau. Don’t feel like entertaining? Then use it to give yourself or your family a night of fantasy and fun. Dial up some Don Ho on your iPod, pop that Elvis DVD on Blue Hawaii, mix up a Mai Tai or other suitable libation and voila, you’ve got a tailor-made Hawaiian vacation without the expense and hassle of travel. !