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Huli Huli Chicken: Hawaii’s Famous BBQ

Fork & Embers

373,554 views

Huli Huli chicken is one of Hawaiʻi’s most iconic barbecue traditions, built around shoyu, ginger, garlic, live fire, and a whole lot of turning. In this video, I’m making my version while digging into the history behind Ernest Morgado, the dish’s Japanese influence, and how Huli Huli chicken became a local favorite.

Huli Huli Chicken Recipe:
https://forkandembers.com/blogs/recip...

Huli Huli Chicken: The Surprisingly Modern Story Behind a Hawaiian Classic
Patreon: huli-huli-modern-166856570

Pit Tools:
https://tools.forkandembers.com/

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Equipment I recommend:
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Meat Flipper: https://amzn.to/3Sn4uVx
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Hawaiian Chili Pepper Water: https://amzn.to/4xS4FHB
Thermapro Pen Thermometer: https://amzn.to/47wXrgv
Weber Chimney Starter: https://amzn.to/4aQH2ne
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:46 Prepping Huli Huli Chicken
4:32 Huli Huli Chicken Marinade
9:22 Seasoning Huli Huli Chicken
12:21 Cooking Huli Huli Chicken
20:52 Huli Huli Chicken Glaze
21:35 Tasting Huli Huli Chicken
22:34 Outro

Cues used:
🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co

E Maru Iti E by Alec Salmon, https://t.lickd.co/l/6m8B5NdPXrR

🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co

Hawaiian Serenade by Luke Leilani and His Hawaiian Rhythm, https://t.lickd.co/l/rkvA8lQ12Q5

🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co

Tiny Bubbles by Sydney Devine, https://t.lickd.co/l/724alRGnwPe

🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co

Maururu a Vau by The Polynesians, https://t.lickd.co/l/8r5n2bLW5vG

🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co

Aloha 6 (Sting) by Chris Norton, Frank Mizen, https://t.lickd.co/l/a8Ovo0mJwnb

🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co

Coconut Dreams 6 (Sting) by Christian Marsac, https://t.lickd.co/l/k5NOJjzdgM7

🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co

Devil Rock 6 (Sting) by Terry Devine-King, https://t.lickd.co/l/rnz4YyEZb4Z

20 Comments

@Fork-And-Embers Creator 1 month ago (edited) Pinned

Thanks for watching. You can grab the recipe over at https://forkandembers.com.

Also, feel free to correct my pronunciations of things. It's why I do this, to learn about other places.

If you’re interested in a deeper historical dive of huli huli chicken, check it out here https://www.patreon.com/forkandembersbbq/posts/166856570

Thank you again so much for the support! Working on some fun upcoming videos.

@L8rCloud 1 month ago

CHICKEN
* 1 whole chicken, about 3–3½ lb
* 1 tbsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
* or about 2 tsp Morton kosher salt
* kiawe, or mesquite wood

MARINADE
* ¾ cup full-sodium shoyu or soy sauce
* ¼ cup dry white wine
* 2 tbsp granulated sugar
* 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
* 2 large garlic cloves, finely grated
* 1 tbsp pineapple juice
* 1½ tsp mirin
* ½ tsp toasted sesame oil

PINEAPPLE GLAZE
* ½ cup reserved clean marinade
* ½ cup pineapple juice
* ¼ cup dark brown sugar
* 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
* 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
* 2 tsp rice vinegar
* 2–3 tsp Hawaiian chili pepper water
* 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
* ½ tsp toasted sesame oil

@Dovey14 1 month ago

Pretty good story about Huli, Huli chicken. I'm Hawaiian, and when I was growing up, in the late 50s through the 60' and 70s. There were two types of Huli Huli Chicken. One was a dry rub; the other was the wet. The dry rub was what you would find most often. We had town fairs back then (we don't have them as much anymore) in all of the townships throughout the state. At those fairs, food was always the best. The most sought-after were the Malasadas and the huli huli chicken. The preferred chicken was the dry rub. When the liquid marinade hit the stores, most Hawaiians didn't like the fact that the secret was out! In those days, people didn't share family recipes. They were kept within the family. Today, there are a lot of places that serve Huli Huli (rotisserie) chicken. But the places that are regarded as the best by locals are the places that serve the chicken that was dry-rubbed. Like the original liquid, no one today has the original rub recipe.

@noisycricket3956 1 month ago

I'm a simple guy, I hear a chef talking about a recipe while dropping the occasional F-bomb, I subscribe.

@Lowe6052 1 month ago (edited)

Anyone else love the way he uses grills, tools etc. that have been worn in? He deserves a Weber sponsorship but I don’t think he would use a new grill or smoker. He’s truly a backyard dude. Legit. Respect! And the way he tells the history of the cook! Awesome

@DevinThomas-c1p 1 month ago

Could listen to this guy tell cookin stories all day long.
Love it

@harryboi4313 1 month ago

Made your Jerk last weekend for the family and it was amazing. Told them all about the history of jerk while cooking and they loved it and appreciated the food so much more. 🎉

@MrKcjose 3 weeks ago

First video of yours I’ve seen. I find your research on the food you cook incredibly respectful and respectable. Nicely done sir.

@charlieray4289 3 weeks ago

Just stumbled on to your channel yesterday and I absolutely love it. I listen to cooking channels all day. The history behind it is outstanding. Thank you Brotha

@PIC-RyanMatthew 1 month ago (edited)

Man Joe your production is getting so good and every recipe has just hit when I make them! You are my GOAT for YT BBQ vids!!! And giving us the history is the cherry on top! 👊

@alexburns736 1 month ago

You should write a cookbook, I'd buy it.Also, do a video on sides, who wants to see what side dishes Joe has with all these amazing bbq meats?

@LITMEZKIN 2 weeks ago

Sir I love your videos the fact that you're not trying to sell your products you are actually teaching us about the history of where styles of cooking co.es from and to me that's extremely important

@necronomitodd 1 month ago

All hail the algorithm!! I subscribed long before this video ended! You kick ass!!

@cowboy3wp 1 month ago

Thanks for bringing back great memories from 40 years ago. In the small farming town I grew up in my folks were friends with a Japanese family who's elders were from Hawaii. In the 80s a cookout in their yard was chicken like this in a clamp basket over a Santa Maria style grill with fruit tree trimmings for the wood. Found my next cooking project. Keep up the great work Joe!

@WhenKetchupFlies 1 month ago

I had been researching Huli Huli chicken for a few week back. My local meat department manager is Samoan raised in Hawaii and I pick his brain. I made your recipe tonight I followed you recipe to the letter. I did have to make the Hawaiian chili pepper water. It's a definite keeper. Ty for sharing.

@harryboi4313 1 month ago

This is the only channel I watch the whole time through. Multiple times. Great work man. I love the history of all the cooks.

@foodieferdiedmaniac420 1 month ago

Mahalo nui loa👍. I missed those huli huli chickens on the side of the road, they’re the best.

@ronsmith9593 1 month ago

I went to High School in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Loved Huli Huli Chicken. Just purchased a WSM and came across you video's and have been hooked. Teaching, history and comedy. Also ordered your chef apron. Maybe that will help gove me your good vibes. 👍 from Roswell, NM 👽

@davidmcdonaldfishing3018 1 month ago

Man you have the most entertaining bbq show on the tube. I love getting a history lesson as well as some great barbecue lessons and tips. Keep it up bro love the content!!!!

@stancamara6544 12 days ago

grew up in Hawaii and had a lot of fund raisers for the church cooking huli huli chicken, we had the option of just the chicken or a plate lunch half chicken with rice and potato Mac salad and drinks. we cooked a minimum of 2,000 chickens but had 3,000 chickens on hand for the day. I never learned the story behind it we just bought the chicken and rented the trailer from them. we use do it 2-3 times a year in the 80's I really enjoyed the history lesson :) dam I miss Hawaii and was lucky growing up there mahalo for the story!