Sweet potato haupia pie

Sweet potato haupia pie is a dish of Hawaiian cuisine.^[1]

Sweet potato haupia pie

Haupia layer on top, sweet potato center, macadamia nut shortbread crust
Alternative names	Okinawan sweet potato haupia pie, Purple Sweet potato haupia, "Ube" haupia pie
Type	Dessert bar
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	US
Region or state	Hawaii
Serving temperature	Cold
Main ingredients	Okinawan sweet potato, Haupia, Macadamia nuts
Media: Sweet potato haupia pie

It is a pie made with sweet potato filling and topped with a layer of haupia (coconut pudding) and uses a macadamia nut shortbread base or short crust. Although it is called a "pie", it is usually prepared in rectangular pans as dessert bars, although a pie dish (or tart pan) can be used.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Background

Sweet potatoes have been a staple in Hawaiian for hundreds of years and have been used in various recipes.^[7] This particular dish was inspired by sweet potato pie originating from the Southern United States. However, it uses Okinawan sweet potatoes, also known as Okinawan purple sweet potatoes or Hawaiian purple sweet potatoes, a popular cultivar widely grown in Hawaii which makes for a vibrant purple filling. The Okinawan sweet potatoes are creamier than other varieties.^[8] The filling is usually absent of the warm spices commonly associated with Southern sweet potato pie. The sweet potato is often mislabeled or mistaken for ube which shares a purple color but has a distinct flavor of its own.^[9]

Although usually a dessert, sometimes it can even be eaten for breakfast.^[10][11]

Preparation

The filling is made by boiling Okinawan purple sweet potatoes until tender, mashing them, and combining them with sugar, coconut milk, evaporated milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. This mixture is then poured into the crust and baked until set. For the haupia layer, coconut milk, water, sugar, and cornstarch are cooked until thickened and then spread over the cooled sweet potato layer. The pie is refrigerated until the haupia layer is firm and typically served with optional toppings like whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes.^[12]

Popularity

McDonald's at one point offered its own version of the pie in Hawaii.^[13] Other shops on the island also offer the dish.^[14][15][16] The dish can also be found in the mainland United States like in San Francisco.^[17][18] However, in general this pie is found exclusively in Hawaii.^[19]

Right before one Thanksgiving, Google released data that showed that haupia pie was the most commonly searched pie in the state of Hawaii.^[20]

Variations

In addition to the pie and bar form, there is also a cheesecake form as well.^[21][22]

Gallery

• 
  Pie in bar form
• 
  Baked in pie dish

See also

• Chocolate haupia pie
• Kōʻelepālau – Hawaiian sweet potato pudding
• List of sweet potato dishes
• List of Hawaiian dishes

References

1. Hee, Jean Watanabe (2001). Hawaiʻi's best local desserts. Honolulu, Hawaiʻi: Mutual Pub. ISBN 978-1-56647-518-1.
2. Namkoong, J.; Huo, R. (2001). Go Home, Cook Rice: A Guide to Buying and Cooking the Fresh Foods of HawaiÊ»i. Namkoong Pub. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-9643359-2-9. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
3. uhmccadmin (2019-03-20). "Sweet Potato Haupia Pie – University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Children's Center". University of Hawaii System. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
4. "Okinawan Sweet Potato Haupia Pie 2 Recipe". feeding my ohana. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
5. "(Hawaiian) Okinawan Sweet Potato Pie with Haupia Topping". Lox, Stock, and Barrel. 2013-12-09. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
6. Kysar, Alana (2019-03-26). Aloha Kitchen: Recipes from Hawai'i [A Cookbook]. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. ISBN 978-0-399-58138-0.
7. "The sweet history of uala: A Staple Food to Give Thanks For". mauinews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
8. "Why purple sweet potatoes belong on your holiday table". University of California. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
9. "How to Plant Okinawan Sweet Potatoes | Grow Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes | Sprouted Garden". SproutedGarden.com. 8 April 2021.
10. Shein, E.D.; Davis, M.; Fuller, K. (2024). Kona. World Castle Publishing, LLC. p. 23. ISBN 979-8-89126-273-7. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
11. Andrés, J.; World Central Kitchen; Chapple-Sokol, S.; Colbert, S. (2023). The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. p. 262. ISBN 978-0-593-57908-4. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
12. Natural, D.E.O. (2017). Down to Earth Cookbook: From Hawaii's Pioneer of Modern-Day Healthy Living. Balboa Press. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-5043-8890-0. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
13. Anastopoulo, Rossi (2022-10-25). Sweet Land of Liberty: A History of America in 11 Pies. Abrams. ISBN 978-1-64700-305-0.
14. Kahawai, Maka (2016-03-15). "It's Pi Day! Where to get your pie on". Honolulu Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
15. Magazine, Maui (2017-11-04). "Four Sisters Bakery Maui". Maui No Ka Oi Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
16. Hawai‘i, Frolic (2020-10-30). "Feastival is bringing special Okinawan dishes to Oahu". Honolulu Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
17. Guzman, Dianne de (2016-10-26). "17 Sweet Pies in San Francisco and the East Bay". Eater SF. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
18. "Best pies in the San Francisco Bay Area".
19. Hamblin, S. (2011). Honolulu & Pearl Harbor Travel Adventures. Travel Adventures Series (in Romanian). Hunter Publishing, Incorporated. p. 392. ISBN 978-1-58843-995-6. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
20. DeLetter, Emily. "Pumpkin and apple pie dominate Thanksgiving. See what pie your state searches for most". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
21. Carpenter, R.; Carpenter, R.E.; Carpenter, C.V. (2005). Big Island Restaurant Guide 2005. Holiday Publishing, Incorporated. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-931752-33-6. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
22. Bigley, M. (2013). Backroads & Byways of Hawaii: Drives, Day Trips & Weekend Excursions. Countryman Press. p. 281. ISBN 978-1-58157-724-2. Retrieved 2024-09-24.