22 Recipes Inspired by the Islands, Mon
Are the islands calling your name? Skip the lines at the airport and bring the islands to your very own backyard with some delicious island fare! From the jerk flavors of the Caribbean to the fresh, juicy flavors of Hawaii, this list of 22 Recipes Inspired by the Islands captures the essence of tropical bliss. So, what are you waiting for? Your ticket to paradise awaits in the list below.
1. Maui Pancakes
Simply one word to describe this one — yum-aloha! Well, maybe that's two words! But you get the idea. You will absolutely have a "stack attack" with all of the tropical flavors found in these Maui Pancakes and their homemade syrup. Just to forewarn, you may grow faint by the fluffiness found in these sweet crushed-pineapple-and-coconut-enveloped islands of pancake joy! Take a fabulous flavor trip with Maui Pancakes each time an oasis retreat treat is calling you. It will definitely stack up to be a great morning refresh!
See More2. Key Lime Pie Milkshake
Get a taste of the tropics with just one sip! Key Lime Pie Milkshake is the official "let's head to Key West" drink of choice. Looking for a little island time? Try this creamy, smooth, vanilla-based shake with the unmistakable taste infusion of Key lime for a summer breeze delight. Join the locals for Key Lime Pie Milkshake and enjoy the view. With this shake in hand, you are zero miles away from great refreshing taste!
See More3. Island-Style Baked Mahi
With a little twist to the traditional menu, your holiday dinner can become positively tropical! Island-Style Baked Mahi takes the sweet, mild flavors of mahi-mahi and accents them with a nutty, fruity wine marinade. Made extra fatty and satisfying with mayo and butter, this tender fish literally melts in your mouth. Island-Style Baked Mahi can serve as a unique holiday main course or as a favorite weekday dinner, and elicit the same excited reaction for both occasions!
See More4. Sheet-Pan Hawaiian Chicken
Say "aloha" to this tasty trip to paradise! If you don't have the time to travel or haven't yet overcome the fear of flying over large bodies of water, take a little tropical tummy-trip with Sheet-Pan Hawaiian Chicken. The pristinely marinated sweet and tangy barbecue chicken with the grass-skirt-shaking crispy peppers and sweet, juicy pineapple blissfully draws you to a place like no other. Enjoy this beautiful island-in-the-oven we call Sheet-Pan Hawaiian Chicken for your next tasty trip to the tropics. It's a delicious little oasis packed with volcanic-like flavors that will have you hula dancing' in your seat. Celebrate the ohana (family) spirit and ono grinds (good food) of the islands with your crew tonight. Surfs up for the best chicken in America! Aloha!
Click Here5. Tropical Chicken Tacos
Tropical Chicken Tacos take you right to the tropics, but not in a hurry. The juicy shredded chicken takes a dip in a sweet and spicy sauce to really infuse that beloved jerk flavor. And don't worry, it's all done in a slow cooker so you can keep living on island time. It's packed in a salty (not sandy!) corn tortilla and topped with tasty green onions, crunchy red cabbage, creamy feta cheese, and a squeeze of fresh lime. After just one bite of Tropical Chicken Tacos, you'll be singing, "Is this love, is this love that I'm feelin'?"
See More6. Hawaiian Shrimp
Aloha from your new favorite seafood dish! Hawaiian Shrimp takes sweet and savory shrimp and coats them in smoky paprika and a refreshingly spicy cayenne pepper, before pan-frying them to golden-brown, crispy morsels! But the true indulgence comes from the rich garlic butter sauce generously poured over the shrimp and fluffy white rice: if that doesn't get you in the tropical spirit, nothing will! Hawaiian Shrimp is ready in a flash and is the best way to experience an island getaway from the comfort of your dining room!
See More7. Baked Island Teriyaki
Baked Island Teriyaki is how you get classic sweet-and-savory teriyaki flavor on your plate, sitting on top of a bed of rice, in under an hour. Simply make up that classic tangy, umami-rich teriyaki sauce and pour it over chicken and tropical fresh pineapple, then bake. The chicken is savory and sticky in the delicious sauce, with the pineapple providing lovely tangy contrast! Baked Island Teriyaki shows that great Japanese flavors can come from inside your oven, as well as from your stovetop!
See More8. Maui Pizza Bake
Escape to the tropics with some mouthwatering Maui Pizza Bake! A taste of Hawaii in every bite, this island-inspired pizza is loaded with tender chicken, tangy barbeque sauce, sweet pineapple, and gooey mozzarella cheese. It's the perfect dish to bring a little bit of "aloha" to your dinner table. Just close your eyes and imagine you're on vacation with the sand between your toes and the sun on your skin as you take a bite... it basically transports you there! With Maui Pizza Bake, you can take a break from the ordinary and give your favorite food a tropical twist. Mahalo!
See More9. Rasta Pasta
The sunny shores of Jamaica are flipping the script and making a vacation stop to your kitchen rather than the other way around! We can't say we mind, not when we have a big bowl of Rasta Pasta in front of us! With sweet and savory shrimp marinated in zesty jerk seasonings and a creamy, spicy sauce loaded with bell peppers, Rasta Pasta knows how to make the faraway island feel just a little closer to home. Not bad for a meal you can make in less than half an hour!
See More10. Island Smoothie
When a trip to the tropics is on your mind, but you're stuck at home in the cool fall weather, this deliciously refreshing drink transports you to your happy place. The Island Smoothie will have you swaying to the imaginary steel drum music in just one sip! Fresh pineapple, frothy coconut milk, sweet bananas, and magnificent mango all blend together perfectly to provide a luscious luau for your taste buds. Garnished with your favorite tropical drink must-haves, the Island Smoothie is a fantastic flavor trip to help satisfy your "I-need-a-vacation-now" feeling for just a little bit longer. It's the yummiest way to keep those winter blues at bay!
See More11. Tropical Chicken Thighs
What makes Tropical Chicken Thighs so sunny? The secret is the sweet, tangy, pineapple-infused sauce with bites of caramelized fruit. Draped over tender, golden-brown chicken, you only need one bite to be whisked away to turquoise waters and palm tree visuals. Tropical Chicken Thighs are enhanced with butter and maple syrup for extra richness and sweetness, making that island taste far more vivid! Don't forget the brown rice to soak up all that amazing sauce!
See More12. Hawaiian Stir Fry
Because of its unique geographic location in the Pacific, Hawaii's cuisine has undergone a fusion of Chinese, Japanese, and native flavors and styles that have yielded tasty results. Hawaiian Stir Fry is one such fabulous fusion creation. The juicy chicken, crisp pea pods, and savory, sweet, and tangy stir-fry sauce build a traditional stir-fry foundation to emphasize the sweet, tropical taste of the fresh pineapple cubes straight from the islands. Since it takes less than half an hour to make, you can enjoy Hawaiian Stir Fry without the guess or the rush. Instead, why not picture some white sand beaches?
See More13. Island Meatballs
Island Meatballs are a whole continent of flavor! The meatballs are savory, beefy, and delightfully spiced! Not to mention the sauce! The meatballs are coated in a thick, sweet, tangy, and tropical sauce that will get your lips smacking. Together, they bring out the best of their flavors. You can relax with a plate of Island Meatballs in just 40 minutes, so it's ideally suited for weeknights when you need to be whisked away.
See More14. Hawaiian Sammies
Aloha! Whether you live by the shore or you just long to, Hawaiian Sammies take you on the tropical "fanta-sea" you need! These little dudes don't require a ton of effort, but they bring a big wave of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors from the topics. Two warm, fluffy Hawaiian sweet rolls create the gateway to enjoying these salty cheese and honey ham handhelds. The easy homemade sauce smothered on top really makes your tastebuds feel like they're in paradise. Get ready to party (might we suggest a luau?!), Hawaiian Sammies take you to island time and there's no turning back!
See More15. Tropical Chicken Nuggets
Are you looking for your own private dinner island? A place to be whisked away for just a brief moment of peace, tranquility, and some chicken? Well, Tropical Chicken Nuggets are the ticket to your quick and tasty trip to the tropics. The juicy nuggets suited in perfection are plunged into an ocean of spicy but sweet salsa to create pure bliss! This tropical dinner planner has all the "deets" on how to make your trip to paradise come to life. Pack up all of the great tastes that Tropical Chicken Nuggets have to offer. It's a tasty trip that you will want to embark on again and again. Arrivederci!
See More16. Polynesian Skewers
Find a touch of island life even in the most landlocked of places! Polynesian Skewers are tropically tangy and sweet with skewered pineapple and red pepper, with turkey sausage for that spicy and savory flavor, and a honey soy glaze for added depth and sweetness! Grilled to crisp yet juicy perfection, Polynesian Skewers will help you find the white sand beaches in your own life!
See More17. Tropical Twist Chicken
Ready for some fun-in-the-sun kind of vibes? We know you always are. Guess what?! You don't even need to pack a bag for this tasty, exotic excursion! Tropical Twist Chicken brings all those island flavors your craving without having to get all that sand stuck between your toes! Yes, please. Load up a pineapple (or plate!) with a sea of tender chicken served with juicy pineapple tossed in a sweet and savory sauce that will trick your brain into thinking you're on the most luxurious vacation. Make sure you pair it with a nice side of fluffy white rice to really balance out all of that seaside satisfaction. Get ready to escape with the Tropical Twist Chicken! We're already on island time, now it's your turn to dive in!
See More18. Aloha Potato Salad
When your schedule doesn't allow you time to take a trip to the Big Island and your tropical cravings won't subside, the next best thing is whipping up a big bowl of this Aloha Potato Salad! Perfect for pool parties and lunch spreads alike, this chunky, creamy, tender potato and bouncy pasta-filled dish brings you flavor and fulfillment no matter where you are! So, grab your lei and a pair of flip flops and turn any day into a vacation with Aloha Potato Salad!
See More19. Creamy Pineapple Dream
Where do you go when you dream? Perhaps to a tropical island, with sapphire waves lapping nearby and white sand beneath your feet? Creamy Pineapple Dream can whisk you back to that place, no airfare required. The tangy and sweet fruit mixes with coconut for the full tropical taste, and with fluffy marshmallows and cream for that cloud-like dream flavor. Throw in a little crunch from buttery pecans and Creamy Pineapple Dream becomes the dessert of your dreams. Dream a little dream of this!
See More20. Tropical Smoothie
The Tropical Smoothie is a vacation in a glass. How do we know this? Well, it's extremely chill, as all the best vacations are, and so refreshing and relaxing. It has flavors that teleport you to your favorite destinations, with tangy pineapple and creamy bananas evoking the white sand beaches of faraway islands. Finally, the Tropical Smoothie is nurturing and filling, restoring you so you can take on anything, as only a good break can. Plus, it only takes 5 minutes to make, so you can get back to swinging in your hammock in no time. Like we said, vacation in a glass!
See More21. Shrimp Ceviche
Shrimp Ceviche is a no-cook appetizer that feels like you've escaped to the islands. The citrus acids of the fruit marinade actually cook the shrimp and infuse it with bright, tropical flavors. Mixed with spicy jalapeño peppers, crispy jícama, and juicy tomatoes, Shrimp Ceviche will have you fawning over it! Let this appetizer whisk you off your feet to white sandy beaches!
See More22. Pineapple Right-Side Up Cake
This treat turns the pineapple upside-down cake back the other way! Pineapple Right-Side Up Cake incorporates the pineapple straight into the tender, sweet cake, so the tropical refreshment is infused in every golden bite. Draped over top is a luscious, buttery icing mixed with sweetened coconut to make sure that island feeling truly gets you relaxed. Crunchy pecans on top add to the texture and make Pineapple Right-Side Up Cake the perfect treat to get things back in order when things feel crazy!
See More
