Lomi Lomi Salmon – Simplicity With Flavor
What is Lomi Lomi Salmon?
In Hawaiian, lomilomi means to massage, or in this case, to break the salmon into small pieces, which are then mixed with tomatoes, onions, and other small condiments, giving it a delicious, tangy taste that goes great with poi. This style of fish preparation, introduced to Hawaiʻi by early Western sailors, is a delightful surprise and a must-have item at any lūʻau.
Where did Lomi Lomi Salmon originate?
Sometime in the first half of the 19th century, Lomi Lomi Salmon became a Hawaiian staple. No one knows for sure how a dish made almost entirely of non-native ingredients came to be, but the Hawaiian Time Machine blog has one of the best explanations I’ve seen.
Ingredient mystery aside, Lomi Lomi Salmon has become an integral part of local Hawaiian cuisine. Lomi Lomi means to massage, and that’s one of the secrets to a successful dish. There are only 4 basic ingredients and the instructions are deceptively simple. Deceptive because each Lomi Lomi Salmon maker creates a unique dish to their taste.
Lomi Lomi Salmon Recipe
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 whole tomatoes
- 225 g (½ lb) green onions
- 2 round onions
- 1.4 kg (3 lbs) diced salmon
Directions
- Core and rinse tomatoes; finely chop. Place in a large 12″ plastic bowl.
- Repeat the same procedure for onions and add them to the mixture.
- Combine all ingredients and mix well.
- Divide evenly into bowls. Cover and refrigerate.
Tips & Serving Suggestions
You can salt your own salmon, reduce or add more salt (use Hawaiian salt if available, or sea salt if not). Some common substitutions include using sweet Maui onions or purple onions, adding chili pepper (or if you’re in Hawaiʻi, chili peppah watah), and even a splash or two of your favorite citrus. Some recipes say to discard the excess tomato juice, and others keep the juice and the seeds of the tomato.
Other cooks have substituted canned tuna or salmon (for the budget-conscious and still delicious!) or gravlax for the salted salmon. Simply season to taste if you use these substitutions.
Allow some time between preparation and serving, because Lomi Lomi Salmon is best after it has marinated for a while and is served cold.
Now, how do you serve this? Poi is a favorite companion dish, but might not be widely available or loved outside of Hawai'i. Here are a few ideas from creative cooks.
Let us know how your Lomi Lomi Salmon dish turned out and how you served this yummy local favorite.
Enjoy!