Traditional Hawaiian ‘Char Siu Manapua’ stuffed bread
Sticker shock warning! Eating half-way decently on the island of Maui is expensive indeed. Really, if you can find a good value anywhere on the islands for anything, no...
Traditional Hawaiian ‘Char Siu Manapua’ stuffed bread
Sticker shock warning! Eating half-way decently on the island of Maui is expensive indeed. Really, if you can find a good value anywhere on the islands for anything, not just food, you’d be a lucky soul! Food products that non-natives normally look for in the markets are mind-blowing, outrageously high priced. How about a pint of potato salad for $10.00? Is that insane or what? I mean, what kind of potatoes were used, for Pete’s sake?
When my husband and I visit Hawaii we carefully plan our spending for one of the most enjoyable activities on a vacation: eating the local foods, whether in a restaurant or in a mini-kitchen! We always spend our first morning enjoying a breakfast of macadamia nut and banana pancakes with coconut syrup. For this tropical treat we get up early to stand in line for the 14-table only Gazebo restaurant where you dine al fresco overlooking the beautiful Napili Bay with Molokai and Lanai islands in the horizon. A perfect morning aloha moment!
With full tummies, we jet straight to the grocery store for ingredients to cook in our lodging unit. We bring our bonus cards for the stores that we shop at to save at least 10%. After all, every little bit helps when eating in paradise!
When traveling, to figure out how to eat a bit more affordably, we also try the native cuisine! Besides saving some dough, the food will be authentic in traditional and local ingredients. One traditional local cuisine that is so unique in itself is from Hawaii! Hawaiian food is comfort food and perfectly reflects how the local natives create delicious foods out of inexpensive ingredients and how they have defied the expense of foods marketed to tourists and the wealthy new residents. Long before food trucks became trendy, they’ve thrived on the islands with ‘plate lunches’, shave ice, and other tropical specialities.
One Hawaiian food that caught my eye is the Manapua, a tender steamed bread stuffed with a Chinese BBQ or roast pork filling. It can also be prepared with beef pot roast which is my husband’s preference and vegetables for those who prefer not to eat meat. Steaming versus baking is another element that makes this dish so unique: the texture is perfectly soft, fluffy and tender!
the tender bread is filled with Chinese pork
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Hawaiian Char Sui Manapua: Steamed Buns Stuffed with BBQ Pork
What You Need:Bun Dough:
1 package dry yeast
3 Tbsp. lukewarm water
2 cups warm water
1-1/2 Tbsp. cooking oil or shortening
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
6 cups sifted flour
1/2 Tbsp. sesame oil
Pork Filling:
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 - 3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp. fresh ginger, minced
1 pound char siu, diced
Few drops red food coloring, optionalInstructionsTo prepare bun dough:
Sprinkle yeast over 3 Tbsp water and allow to stand until yeast softens.
To remaining water, add oil or shortening, sugar and salt, stirring until melted or dissolved.
Cool and then add yeast mixture.
Place flour in a large mixing bowl and add most of the liquid.
Begin kneading.
Add remaining liquid to make a very heavy dough.
Continue mixing until you have a smooth ball that is beginning to show signs of long strands on the outside, indicating that the gluten has fully developed.
Remove dough from bowl and rinse out bowl.
Pour sesame oil into bowl, return dough and turn it around until covered with a thin layer of the oil.
Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until double in bulk -- about an hour in a warm room.
Placing the dough in the refrigerator and allowing it to rise there, 3-6 hours, develops the flavor.
Proceed with the filling or gently deflate the dough and allow it to rise for a second time, which will further enhance the flavor.
To prepare filling:
In a pot, sti
