Pineapple-Smoked Kona Yearling Striploin with Hibiscus Aïoli
    Ingredients Method
    For the beef: skins from 10 pineapples
    4 lb. Kona yearling striploin

    Dry cure mixture:
    1 c. kosher salt
    1 c. dark brown sugar
    2 Tbs. whole black peppercorns, crushed
    2 Tbs. whole coriander, crushed
    1/2 Tbs. onion powder
    1/2 Tbs. garlic powder
    1/4 Tbs. coarse salt
    1/2 Tbs. whole allspice, crushed
    1/2 Tbs. whole cloves, crushed

    Hibiscus Aoli:
    20 hibiscus flowers
    2 Tbs. garlic, blanched
    1/2 Tbs. salt
    3 egg yolks
    Juice from 2 lemons
    2 c. extra virgin olive oil

    Pineapple salad:
    1 1/2 c. pineapple, cut in 1/4" dice
    1/4 c. carrots, cut in 1/4" dice
    1/4 c. celery, cut in 1/4" dice
    1 Tbs. cilantro, minced
    1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
    Juice from 1 lemon
    Salt and cayenne pepper
    One week before, dry the pineapple skins in an oven, set at the lowest temperature until thoroughly dried. Rough chop in food processor.

    For the beef, mix all dry cure ingredients together. Remove fat and silverskin from striploin. Place the meat in a stainless steel pan, rub with dry cure, cover and refrigerate for 48 hours.

    To smoke beef, place dried pineapples in wood box, and smoke the cured striploin until an internal temperature of 115F is reached. Remove and keep warm. (It has to be served cold. Remove and when cool, refrigerate).

    For the Aïoli, in a mortar, pound the hibiscus flowers, garlic and salt into a paste. Add the egg yolks and lemon juice, and slowly whip in the olive oil until all is incorporated.

    For the pineapple salad, mix all ingredients thoroughly refrigerate.

    To serve, slice meat very thin and lay out 5 pieces on a plate. Garnish with a 1/2 c. of the pineapple salad and three hibiscus petals. Place Aïoli in a radicchio lettuce cup on plate.

    Yield: 6 servings