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Hawaiian Manapua

Hawaiian manapua recipe: fluffy steamed buns stuffed with sweet, smoky char siu pork, Hawaii’s beloved take on the bao that fueled plantation lunch wagons.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 AppetizerCategory
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Manapua arrived in Hawaii with Chinese plantation workers in the 1800s, who carried these steamed pork buns to the fields as portable lunches. Local bakers adapted the recipe with sweeter dough and saucier fillings, and manapua soon became a cornerstone of Hawaii’s plate lunch culture.

What makes it great is the cloud-soft bun wrapped around glossy, barbecue-sweet roast pork. Eaten hot from the steamer with a little Chinese mustard or hot sauce, a manapua is a pillowy pocket of pure nostalgia.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in the warm water and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, warm milk, and oil; knead into a smooth, soft dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
  3. Meanwhile, make the filling: stir together the char siu, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and onion.
  4. Punch down the dough and divide into 12 pieces. Flatten each into a disc, place a spoonful of filling in the center, and pleat the edges closed into a bun.
  5. Place the buns on parchment in a steamer basket, cover, and let rise 20 minutes.
  6. Steam over boiling water for 15 minutes, until puffed and shiny. Serve warm.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Keep the buns covered while they rest so the dough does not dry out. Leftover manapua freeze beautifully, just re-steam for 5 minutes to bring back the fluff.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
CategoryAppetizer
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →