This is one of my Gramma’s recipes that my mom and aunts swear by. I have memories of my gram bringing this appetizer out, only to have every last piece snatched up within minutes. I have NO IDEA why they are called “Hawaiian Pupus,” however. I know “pupus” are Hawaiian for appetizer, but I don’t know what prompted this recipe to be labeled as Hawaiian. Maybe one of you will have some insight?
Hawaiian Pupus
You need:
1 package English Muffins
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped black olives
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon mild curry powder (optional)
salt, to taste
Grate your cheese into a mixing bowl.
Resist eating the cheese! I know it’s hard, but I have faith in you.
Chop up your onions and add them to the mixing bowl.
Add the chopped olives to the bowl.
It’s mayo time. Add it to the other ingredients in your mixing bowl.
Mix it all up. Wiggle your hips, it’s cardio!
Halve your English Muffins and lightly toast them.
Place your lightly toasted muffins on a baking sheet, then spread the mix on top of each muffin.
Put the baking sheet in the oven and broil until the cheese melts. This took about 3-5 minutes for my oven.
When they are done they should look like this. YUM.
Cut the muffins into quarters. I used a pizza-cutter and it was really easy.
Hawaiian Pupus, ready to eat!
Mike was uncertain about the whole thing. But he then went on to eat every. single. piece. My mom was mad he didn’t save any for her! You snooze you lose, mom.
Enjoy!
- 1 package English Muffins
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup chopped black olives
- ½ cup chopped green onions
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon mild curry powder (optional)
- salt, to taste
- Combine olives, onions, cheese, salt, curry powder, and mayo in a large mixing bowl.
- Lightly toast English muffins.
- Spoon mixture onto muffins, then place in broiler until cheese melts.
- Cut muffins into quarters.
- Serve hot.
Melissa says:
Well, a pupu means appetizer. But not sure what’s “Hawaiian” about these! Look good, though
Heather says:
Exactly! I don’t get it! But at least they are yummy.
monika smith says:
Probably cause the hawaiians call appetizer pupu’s
The Print Blog says:
Those pupus do look delicious. I am going to try this recipe out when I have some free time.
Marnie * says:
I have all the ingredients to make these NOW, except for the olives. Do you think they’d still taste good? Please say yes, because I must eat these soon.
Aliesha says:
This is one of those times I wish I liked olives…those look so yummy! But something tells me they wouldn’t be as good without the olives, and I just hate them
Perhaps I’ll make them for my olive-loving husband and friends though.
Annie @ Annie's Cooking Lab says:
I feel the same way about olives, I’m guessing these would still be delicious without the olives. I’m planning to give them a try next time I need an appetizer!
Jenny says:
i would think the olives work because of the salt and water content so maybe try with bacon pieces?
Heather says:
BACON! That is a GENIUS idea!!!
Aliesha says:
Bacon!! That’s a great idea!!! I’m going to go for it!
jacquie says:
I’m making this Super Bowl Sunday!!
Kelly says:
Oh, the yum. My hubs won’t eat olives, so I shall get them all!
Kerri says:
These look so yummy and I’m definitely going to try them, but I do have a question. You buy onions that are already chopped, but grate your cheese and chop your olives? Hmmm, we have very different approaches to cooking (read: mine is lazy).
Heather says:
HA. The olives were already sliced, too – I just chopped them even finer. I normally buy grated cheese but Annie loves the block cheese!
Laura says:
I make almost exactly the same recipe, minus the olives but sprinkle bread crumbs on top, bake it in a baking dish and serve with Fritos Scoops! AmAzInG.
JustAMom says:
I can’t believe you resisted (I just know you had to have it) the urge to make a pupu joke. You’re not growling up on us, are you?
JustAMom says:
Uh *GROWING up. Though I think most of us would understand if you wanted to growl occasionally.
Rebecca says:
Those look great! I’m not such a fan of olives so I think I’ll use less and add some pineapple!
Michell DuBose says:
Ah ha! Rebecca if you use pineapple that will make it Hawaiian for sure!
Dixie says:
We’ve made those, or a similar version, for years. Instead of muffins, we use fairly thin slices of baguettes. The cheese and mayo is the base and a number of things can be addedd or subtracted, but sliced green onion remains a favorite.
Dianne says:
OMG! These look soooooo good! I am definitely going to make them soon!
Kristin says:
Sounds delish…but I’d have to substitute something for the olives.
G says:
aaawwww where in the world was Annie? i love seeing her in the kitchen *helping* you.
Megan says:
“Lightly toasted muffins” sounds dirty.
And these look delicious.
Noelle says:
I can’t believe you have so many readers who don’t like olives. Shocking!
Heather says:
I KNOW!!! I am totally surprised!
Vicky says:
I don’t like them either. Evil little black or green things!!
Shan says:
OMG..those look SO GOOD! I am gonna have to make those when we have guests fo sho!
Valerie says:
Yum, pupu/Ewwwwwwww olives… Think bacon, or maybe some veggie mix (broccoli/carrots/cauliflower…) might be an interesting switch!!
Michelle Burger says:
I make these too but put the same topping on little square pieces of rye bread. I don’t toast the bread beforehand, but just putting the topping on and put in the oven until it melts.
Ashley says:
I will have to try these!
Thanks!
TRISHA says:
We have something we make called Hawaiian Stacks with shredded chicken & gravy over white rice and then you add diced olives, scallions, tomatoes, yellow peppers and shredded cheddar to your liking and top with crunchy rice noodles, coconut flakes and a little pineapple.
I am going to try these pupus this Sunday for the Super Bowl with your recipe and then add a few diced tomatoes, pineapple and coconut to a few and see how it shakes out.
Thanks for sharing Heather!
karla says:
This look so delicious. I will definitely gonna try to cook this recipe one day. Thanks!
javen21 says:
I’ve already tried to bake this recipe but I eliminate the curry powder, it’s optional anyway. Me and my friends loved it! Although the name sounds yucky but the taste.. Yummy!
Christie says:
I have been making these since I ate them at my friend’s Grandmother’s house many years ago. I absolutely adore them and can’t get enough. I have always been confused about the “Hawaiian” aspect, but whatever! THEY ARE YUMMY and the curry powder makes them even better!