Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi Salmon
Lomi-lomi salmon is a fresh and vibrant Hawaiian side dish, typically served at luaus. It's a refreshing mix of salted salmon, ripe tomatoes, sweet onions, and green onions, gently 'massaged' together.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time15 minutes (plus marinating time)
Servings4
DifficultyEasy
🧂 Ingredients
- 0.5 lb Salted salmon(deboned, skinned, and cut into small, pencil-eraser-sized cubes)
- 4 medium Roma tomatoes(seeded and diced into pencil-eraser-sized pieces)
- 2 small Sweet onion(diced into pencil-eraser-sized pieces (Maui or Vidalia recommended))
- 6 stalks Green onions(chopped)
- 0.25 tsp Crushed red chili pepper flakes(optional, for a touch of heat)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large glass bowl, combine the diced salted salmon, tomatoes, sweet onion, green onions, and optional red chili flakes.
- 2
Gently 'lomi' (knead or toss) the ingredients together with your hands until well combined. The goal is to gently mix, not to mash.
- 3
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to several hours) to allow the flavors to meld.
- 4
Serve chilled as a side dish.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓If you cannot find pre-salted salmon, you can cure your own by covering a salmon filet with Hawaiian sea salt on both sides, wrapping it tightly, and refrigerating for 3-4 days. Rinse and soak in cold water for an hour before using.
- ✓The 'lomi-lomi' action refers to gently massaging or kneading the ingredients together.
- ✓The saltiness of the salmon means no additional salt is usually needed.
🔄 Variations
- Add diced cucumber for extra crunch.
- Some recipes include a small amount of minced jalapeño for more heat.