Looking to get more omega-3 healthy fats into your diet? Look no further! This Hawaiian-inspired Pineapple Lime Salmon Slaw will take your tastebuds on a tropical vacation, all while nourishing your body. With mega anti-inflammatory properties, plus protein and fiber, you’ll be feeling fabulous and satiated for hours!

“Alooooooooooo-ha!”

It’s the word I heard everywhere I went in Hawaii last week, and one I’m missing dearly now – along with the poolside lounging, beach walks and poke bowls. Vacations are grand, aren’t they?

First, let’s start with a bit of context as to how this one came about. Last summer I turned 30 ad my mum gifted me a trip so that the two of us could celebrate. Having fallen so in love with Maui during my solo adventure there in 2017, I decided to put all the Hawaiian islands on my travel bucket list. Kauai was going to be my next pick, but for several reasons, the one that made more sense for this occasion was Oahu.

After landing at the airport we drove to our hotel in Waikiki Beach, the Grand Islander by Hilton. As someone who would rather cook meals and spend money on excursions and sightseeing, this was a perfect choice because our room had a fully equipped kitchen. On the way, we made a stop at the island’s newest Whole Foods, which also happens to be the biggest one in Hawaii. (Here’s a peek – she’s an absolute stunnah!) As you may have guessed, yours truly was like a kid in a candy store. It was here that I devoured my first ahi poke bowl of the trip (one of many), and stocked up on a whole bunch of delicious food for our kitchen.

The produce section was unreal with fruits and veggies from over 60 local suppliers. The seafood selection was one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen yet, and the salad/hot bars were some of the best I’ve seen – even when compared to here in LA. Contrary to what you might assume, grocery prices at this Whole Foods were comparable (and sometimes lower) than the other grocery chains.

While my Maui trip was a very active and adventurous one (surfing, a lot of hiking and snorkeling), our Oahu stay was quite a bit more low key and relaxed. We did however, attend a luau on our hotel’s rooftop, and go out on a whale watching cruise. It was the first time I’d ever tried one of these, and it did not disappoint! We saw humpback whales, a ton of dolphins, and some beautiful views of the coastline.

I knew we were taking a gamble with weather by visiting in February, but with the exception of one rainy day (which we turned into a shopping day), it was sunny and warm. Losing one day to rain meant we didn’t quite squeeze in our plans to explore Oahu’s north shore (so much to see up there!), but we did do a really nice hike at Diamond Head State Monument. (It’s the highest point you see in the photo above.) This one’s known as one of the most popular hikes in Oahu because it’s fairly easy and close to Waikiki (and therefore very crowded) but the views from the lookout points were totally worth it.

Having now been to Oahu and Maui, I very much understand what other visitors have described when they say how different the islands are. I’m not trying to suggest that one is better than the other – it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re considering either destination for your next vacation, here are a few quick tips based on my experience:

Urban development + getting around

Overall, Oahu (at least in Waikiki and the southern part) is very developed and touristy. Resorts and skyscraper buildings are what you’ll see along the coast, with mountains in the background. Highways run all over the island with multiple lanes in each direction, similar to what you’d expect in a “regular” big/mid-sized city. By contrast, far more of Maui roads were unpaved, had fewer lanes, and fewer alternate routes in the event that a portion of road was closed. Maui felt to me like it was more untouched and in its natural state, whereas the heavily populated areas of Waikiki have very much been built to accommodate the 450,000-570,000 travelers who visit each month. (This is way more than any of the other islands.)

Rental car vs Uber/Lyft

If you visit Oahu and don’t plan to drive all over the island every day, you don’t really need a rental car like you do in Maui. We had one, but Uber and Lyft both operate on Oahu and seemed to be pretty convenient options. There’s also a trolley that drives around the Waikiki area, stopping at the major malls and hotels.

If you do decide to rent a car and stay in Waikiki Beach, be prepared to pay for valet parking. I made the mistake of assuming I’d be able to self park for $45/night at our resort, but learned upon arrival that the self-park lot was much further away and not very convenient. Instead, we ended up using the recommended valet service for $52/night. (Uber/Lyft would have probably been cheaper by the end of the week!)

Culture

I felt Maui offered more of a true Hawaiian experience in terms of the activities, scenery, and people I interacted with – both at and outside of my hotel. Those that weren’t locals in Maui seemed to be mostly North American visitors like me, and the people at the resort I stated at in Maui were mostly adults in their 20s and 30s. On the other hand, Waikiki attracts a very large Asian tourist population (and more families with children), so a lot of public signage, menus etc are translated into Japanese. I don’t recall seeing this in Maui, but things may have changed since 2017 so feel free to correct me if I’m wrong!

Attractions

If you’re visiting either island in the winter (ie between December and February), I highly recommend a whale watching tour! The chances of seeing whales, dolphins and turtles are much higher during this time and we saw tons! It was definitely worth the money, and you may be able to get discounts by booking through your hotel as we did. Waves are also way bigger in the winter, which means some epic displays of surfing skill on the north shore beaches.

As far as booking things go, I’m normally all for booking ahead for most things. But like I said, traveling to Hawaii in the winter means you’re more likely to deal with a bit of rain. We opted to book all activities when we got there and this proved to be a good move. Whales might not care if it’s raining outside but it’s far more pleasant to be on a boat cruise in the sunshine!

Hiking

In Oahu (and Maui), I chose fairly popular hikes so that I’d feel comfortable doing them on my own/without a guide. Yes there were others around, but I felt totally safe and didn’t spend unnecessarily on tours. There are some great waterfall hikes on both islands, and even though Diamond Head in Oahu was crowded, it’s an easy one to do in a short amount of time.

Poke (and other groceries)

If you love poke, download the Foodland app so that you can get a (free) Maika’i card. It’ll save you money and get you half a pound of poke for about $6! Also, go to the Whole Foods on Queen in Oahu. If you are a foodie, it is like a playground.

Sunsets

Pick whichever island you like – these never disappoint!

With the vacation memories still vivid in my mind, this week’s recipe is somewhat Hawaiian-inspired with gorgeous, rich salmon, vibrant flavours of pineapple and lime, fresh veggies and crunchy macadamia nuts. And yes, I know pineapple is not seasonal right now – at least not in the northern hemisphere! But if you’re like me, you’re probably ready to say goodbye to winter and aloha to warmer days. Sound about right? If so, this Pineapple Lime Salmon Slaw will give your palate a little taste of sunshine. Enjoy!

Pineapple Lime Salmon Slaw

Author: Angela Simpson
Total Time: 45 mins
Yield: 2 servings 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Ingredients

Scale

For the salmon

2 uncooked skin-on sockeye salmon fillets
1/2 cup pineapple lime vinaigrette, below

For the pineapple lime vinaigrette (makes 1 cup)

1/4 cup EACH pineapple juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar and extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp low sodium tamari or coconut aminos
2 tsp finely grated or minced fresh ginger
a few pinches of pink sea salt and chili flakes

For the slaw:

1 1/2 cups thinly shredded purple cabbage
1 cup grated or shredded carrot
3/4 cup sugar snap peas, diagonally sliced
3/4 cup EACH red and yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup defrosted edamame beans
1 green onion, diagonally sliced (white and light green parts only)
3 tbsp roughly chopped macadamia nuts (optional)
1/3 cup loosely packed and roughly torn cilantro
1 tsp sesame seeds
sunflower sprouts, to garnish

Instructions

In a glass jar or sealable container, shake up the ingredients fro the pineapple lime vinaigrette. Reserve half for slaw dressing and use the other half as the marinade for your salmon.
Place the fish in the marinade and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Meanwhile (or any time before you’re ready to cook the fish), prepare the slaw by mixing together all ingredients as listed above in a large bowl. Drizzle a few tablespoons of the dressing over top and toss well to coat.*
When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with foil** and lay the marinated salmon fillets, skin side down, on top. Bake for 15-25 mins (depending on fillet thickness) or until the internal temperature reaches 145F. (If you don’t have a thermometer, the inside of the fillets should be opaque and flaky.)
Once cooked, remove the salmon from the oven and use a flipper or spatula to separate the flesh from the skin.
Depending on your preference, you can either divide the slaw between two bowls and place the salmon fillets on top, or mix them into the slaw, breaking them up into small pieces with a fork.
Garnish with sunflower sprouts and serve.

Notes

*If you’d like, the slaw can be made up to 2 days in advance. Once tossed in vinaigrette, its flavours will intensify over time.

**You can use parchment if you like, but I find that the salmon skin sticks well to foil and makes it easier to separate from the flesh when ready to serve.

Prep Time: 20 mins (+ marinating)
Cook Time: 25 mins
Category: dinner
Method: bake

Keywords: salmon, seafood, healthy salmon recipes, gluten free, dairy free, low sugar, Hawaiian, healthy dinner recipes, meal prep recipes, healthy lunches, anti-inflammatory recipes

Tell me, have you been to any of the Hawaiian islands before? If you’ve been to a more than one, which was your favourite and why?