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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Hawaiian Lomi Lomi (Lomi Salmon)

    July 17, 2015 • Updated: June 27, 2021 • by Renée • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe

    Love sushi and sashimi? Then you definitely want to check out Lomi salmon! More commonly known as lomi-lomi, this popular Hawaiian side dish is made from fresh salmon, tomatoes, onions, and scallions, and is always served cold.

    We found Lomi salmon on nearly every “Hawaiian” menu we saw on Oahu, and apparently it is a standard on touristy "luau" menus as well. This made me curious, because fresh salmon is not found anywhere near Hawaii.

    Upon investigation (read: Google) I learned that salmon quickly became an island favorite back in the 1880s, when mainland sailors began bringing it in with their provisions from the Pacific Northwest. Naturally, the salmon the sailors brought with them was preserved in salt, and even today, Hawaii remains one of the few places where salted salmon is available for sale.

    Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Salmon Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman

    This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite.

    The method of preparation, lomi, takes its name from the Hawaiian word meaning to knead or massage - “as the claws of a contented cat" - wherein the salmon and other ingredients are massaged with the hands until everything is broken up and thoroughly mixed.

    Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Salmon Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman

    Like many dishes around the globe, it seems everyone has their own recipe for Lomi Lomi. While in Hawaii, I talked to a number of locals about the proper way to make it, and got a different answer from each one, ranging from "You have to use fresh fish and a handful of fresh chopped chilis," to "My grandma always uses canned salmon."

    I guess the lesson here is, take the recipe and make it your own. (I gave this recipe a decidedly PNW spin with some of our own beautiful, wild-caught Sockeye salmon.) However you choose to make it though, enjoy!

    5 from 2 votes

    Hawaiian {Lomi Lomi} Salmon

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Hawaiian
    Author: Renee

    Ingredients

    • ½ lb. salmon I used Pacific Wild-caught Sockeye!
    • Kosher salt*
    • Dash of cayenne* Optional: See Note
    • 3-4 meduim tomatoes chopped
    • ½ medium sweet onion chopped
    • 2-3 green onions chopped

    Instructions

    Prepare Salmon

    • Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Salmon Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman
    • Wash off salmon. Generously salt salmon on both sides and rub in. Wrap tightly in plastic and allow to cure 8 hours (or overnight) in the refrigerator.
    • Remove from fridge and soak in ice water for one hour, changing water after 30 minutes.
    • Using a sharp, wet knife, chop salmon into small pieces. (About ¼ inch)

    Finishing up

    • Mix all ingredients together, massaging the ingredients together by hand to mix thoroughly. Chill in the fridge. Serve cold.

    Notes

    Best if made a day ahead.
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Note: In place of Kosher salt and cayenne, I used Hawaiian Chili Pepper Sea Salt.

    Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Salmon Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman

    Our Hawaiian adventures inspired a number of recipes, including Banana Lumpia, Vietnamese Banana Pudding, and Mango Pineapple Smoothie. 

    Wavy Line

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    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!
    « Embracing Your Inner Tourist (Hawaiian Style)
    Pearl Harbor Memorial, pt 2 »
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    About Renée

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pech says

      July 17, 2015 at 5:12 pm

      That's so cute, I had no idea that's what Lomi means, what unique trivia in that it's about a metaphor for a technique when all this time I thought it was yet another Hawaiian name for fish! Thank you for your careful research and dutifully thinking about blog topics even on vacation in paradise!

      Reply
    2. Marlynn [UrbanBlissLife] says

      July 17, 2015 at 1:30 pm

      5 stars
      I am so impressed that you MADE Lomi Lomi! Looks beautiful -- and tasty!

      Reply
    3. Susan | LunaCafe says

      July 17, 2015 at 8:18 am

      5 stars
      Beautiful! I've never heard of this preparation. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Melinda says

      July 17, 2015 at 7:33 am

      I've never heard of Lomi salmon, but my in-laws love all things Hawaiian, so I'll forward this on to them!

      Reply

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