sweet potato haupia pie

Sweet potatoes have been a staple in Hawaii for hundreds of years and have been used in various recipes.{{Cite web |title=The sweet history of uala: A Staple Food to Give Thanks For |url=https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2022/11/the-sweet-history-of-uala-a-staple-food-to-give-thanks-for/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=mauinews.com |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-20 |title=Why purple sweet potatoes belong on your holiday table |url=https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/why-purple-sweet-potatoes-belong-your-holiday-table |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=University of California |language=en}} 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.{{cite web |title=How to Plant Okinawan Sweet Potatoes {{!}} Grow Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes {{!}} Sprouted Garden |url=https://sproutedgarden.com/grow-okinawan-sweet-potatoes/ |website=SproutedGarden.com |date=8 April 2021}}

Although usually a dessert, sometimes it can even be eaten for breakfast.{{cite book |last1=Shein |first1=E.D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OfofEQAAQBAJ&pg=PT23 |title=Kona |last2=Davis |first2=M. |last3=Fuller |first3=K. |publisher=World Castle Publishing, LLC |year=2024 |isbn=979-8-89126-273-7 |page=23 |access-date=2024-09-22}}{{cite book | last=Andrés | first=J. | author2=World Central Kitchen | last3=Chapple-Sokol | first3=S. | last4=Colbert | first4=S. | title=The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope | publisher=Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed | year=2023 | isbn=978-0-593-57908-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PcGhEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA262 | access-date=2024-09-24 | page=262}}

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.{{cite book |last=Natural |first=D.E.O. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NuU_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT148 |title=Down to Earth Cookbook: From Hawaii's Pioneer of Modern-Day Healthy Living |publisher=Balboa Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-5043-8890-0 |page=148 |access-date=2024-09-22}}

McDonald's at one point offered its own version of the pie in Hawaii.{{Cite book |last=Anastopoulo |first=Rossi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0TVeEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Sweet+potato+haupia+pie%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT260 |title=Sweet Land of Liberty: A History of America in 11 Pies |date=2022-10-25 |publisher=Abrams |isbn=978-1-64700-305-0 |language=en}} Other shops on the island also offer the dish.{{Cite web |last=Kahawai |first=Maka |date=2016-03-15 |title=It's Pi Day! Where to get your pie on |url=https://www.honolulumagazine.com/its-pi-day-where-to-get-your-pie-on/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Honolulu Magazine |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last=Magazine |first=Maui |date=2017-11-04 |title=Four Sisters Bakery Maui |url=https://www.mauimagazine.net/haupia-pie/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Maui No Ka Oi Magazine}}{{cite web |last=Hawai‘i |first=Frolic |date=2020-10-30 |title=Feastival is bringing special Okinawan dishes to Oahu |url=https://www.honolulumagazine.com/feastival-is-bringing-special-okinawan-dishes-to-oahu/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Honolulu Magazine}} The dish can also be found in the mainland United States like in San Francisco.{{cite web |last=Guzman |first=Dianne de |date=2016-10-26 |title=17 Sweet Pies in San Francisco and the East Bay |url=https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-pie-san-francisco-east-bay |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Eater SF}}{{Cite news |title=Best pies in the San Francisco Bay Area |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/best-pies-bay-area-17548047.php}} However, in general this pie is found exclusively in Hawaii.{{cite book | last=Hamblin | first=S. | title=Honolulu & Pearl Harbor Travel Adventures | publisher=Hunter Publishing, Incorporated | series=Travel Adventures Series | year=2011 | isbn=978-1-58843-995-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZXrVAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT392 | language=ro | access-date=2024-09-23 | page=392}}

Right before one Thanksgiving, Google released data that showed that haupia pie was the most commonly searched pie in the state of Hawaii.{{Cite web |last=DeLetter |first=Emily |title=Pumpkin and apple pie dominate Thanksgiving. See what pie your state searches for most. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/13/pumpkin-pie-thanksgiving-most-searched-pies/71383570007/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

In addition to the pie and bar form, there is also a cheesecake form as well.{{cite book | last1=Carpenter | first1=R. | last2=Carpenter | first2=R.E. | last3=Carpenter | first3=C.V. | title=Big Island Restaurant Guide 2005 | publisher=Holiday Publishing, Incorporated | year=2005 | isbn=978-1-931752-33-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yAPaxrrrX90C&pg=PA33 | access-date=2024-09-24 | page=33}}{{cite book | last=Bigley | first=M. | title=Backroads & Byways of Hawaii: Drives, Day Trips & Weekend Excursions | publisher=Countryman Press | year=2013 | isbn=978-1-58157-724-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g79UAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA281 | access-date=2024-09-24 | page=281}}

File:Haupia tart.jpg|Pie in bar form

File:Ube Haupia Pie with Macadamia Shortbread Crust (933851403).jpg|Baked in pie dish

• Chocolate haupia pie
• {{annotated link|Kōʻelepālau}}
• List of sweet potato dishes
• List of Hawaiian dishes

{{reflist}}

{{Sweet potatoes}}

{{American pies}}

Category:Hawaiian cuisine

Category:Hawaiian desserts

Category:Sweet pies

Category:Sweet potato dishes