This Thanksgiving, say aloha to a Hawaiian style holiday menu fit for a king. Sweet and spicy meatballs, coconut sweet potatoes, pineapple-glazed ham – these dishes bring the taste of Hawaii straight to your dining room table. They’ll have your whole family saying “E ʻai kakou!” (Let’s eat!) in no time.
Add some island flair to your Thanksgiving feast with these seven Hawaiian style recipes:
Hawaiian Style Thanksgiving Menu
Appetizer: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs with Mango Salsa
Soup: Purple Potato Soup
Side Dish: Coconut Sweet Potatoes and Wild Rice
Side Dish: Bacon-Date Stuffing
Entrée: Garlic and Pineapple-Glazed Ham
Drink: Coconut Cream Island Punch
Dessert: Honeyed Yogurt Pumpkin Pie with Pistachio-Coconut Streusel
Appetizer: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs with Mango Salsa
Hawaiian-inspired sweet and spicy meatballs make the perfect passed hors d’oeuvres with which to kick-off your holiday festivities. Beacon, beef, and pork come together to make juicy and flavorful apps that will wow your guests and give them a taste of what’s to come.
Make-Ahead Tips:
The mango salsa can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Just chill in the fridge until it’s time to serve.
You can also make the meatballs just before guests arrive and keep them warm in a low-heated crockpot.
Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Meatballs with Mango Salsa
Soup: Purple Potato Soup
This delicious purple potato soup packs a big Hawaiian punch as your first course. That’s right. This bright purple soup is chock full of flavor. It’s made with pureed purple potatoes – or ubes – and pomegranate juice, and is garnished with a touch of sour cream and marjoram.
Recipe: Purple Potato Soup
Side Dish: Coconut Sweet Potatoes and Wild Rice
This coconut-laced twist on traditional sweet potato casserole calls for some untraditional ingredients: coconut milk, peanut butter, and red curry paste. But, despite being loaded with flavor, it’s surprisingly quick and easy to make. You can prep, bake and have this dish on the table in less than an hour.
Tip: Make your rice earlier in the week so you have it cooked and ready to add to this hearty side.
Recipe: Coconut Sweet Potatoes and Wild Rice
Stuffing: Bacon-Date Stuffing
It’s not Thanksgiving without stuffing and every table needs a standout recipe; this one really takes the cake. Just use dates and Hawaiian sweet bread to add a Hawaiian edge, then add a bit of bacon to balance the sweetness. Plus, this stuffing works alongside either turkey or ham – whichever you choose to serve this year.
Tip: To make the dry Hawaiian bread cubes, cut 7 slices of Hawaiian sweet bread into half-inch pieces and arrange them in one layer on a sheet pan. Then, bake at 300°F for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing every few minutes so they toast evenly.
Recipe: Bacon-Date Stuffing
Entrée: Garlic and Pineapple-Glazed Ham
For a true Hawaiin-style Thanksgiving, try featuring ham as the centerpiece of your menu. A Hawaiian-themed feast wouldn’t be complete without a proper pig-roast (and pineapple), so this entrée makes perfect sense. This recipe’s sweet honey glaze with pineapple, garlic, and crushed red pepper is the perfect compliment for a sweet-tangy finish.
Recipe: Garlic and Pineapple-Glazed Ham
Drink: Coconut Cream Island Punch
This year, serve a yummy spiced fruit punch recipe made with star fruit, grapefruit, and coconut rum punch. It’s the perfect addition to your Hawaiian Thanksgiving meal. And since it makes a large batch, you can have another glass to celebrate after the leftovers are packed away.
Tip: To cut down on added sugars, replace grapefruit soda with grapefruit-flavored sparkling water.
Recipe: Coconut Cream Island Punch
Desert: Honeyed Yogurt Pumpkin Pie with Pistachio-Coconut Streusel
This upgrade to classic pumpkin pie will really hit your guests with Hawaiian flavor. And, it’s so easy. Just sprinkle a pretty typically pumpkin pie with Hawaiin inspired streusel. Chopped pistachios and coconut flakes keep this recipe a fall-time classic.
Recipe: Honeyed Yogurt Pumpkin Pie
There you have it – a Hawaiian style Thanksgiving dinner everybody will enjoy. From all of us here at Kilauea Hospitality Group, Happy Thanksgiving. Planning a trip to Volcano? Check out our family-friendly accommodations at the gates of Volcanos National Park.