haupia (hawaiian coconut pudding)

shake coconut milk cans well before opening them and pouring the contents into the cooking pot.

when stirring, only stir in one direction.

the only thing you should be doing while making haupia is making haupia. do not attempt to multi-task while cooking haupia. be patient. meditate.

NEVER boil the coconut milk or cornstarch mixture. lumpy pudding guaranteed...

all pots, pans, and utensils used in haupia preparation should be clean, clean, clean!! coconut milk and cornstarch will latch onto any residue in your pots and pans.

in separate mixing bowl, add powdered sugar and salt to water. mix well, then gradually add cornstarch. mix vigorously until the liquid is smooth.

stir coconut milk over low heat until it is of an even consistency. stir water/sugar/cornstarch mixture again, then add it to the coconut milk. if making a small batch (1-2 cans), lower the heat slightly. if making 3-4 cans' worth, raise the heat slightly. keep stirring the mixture, stirring more vigorously as it starts to thicken. this should take about 10-15 minutes for a single can of coconut milk, about 20-30 minutes for 4 cans of coconut milk. the mixture will suddenly become quite thick, so pay attention. NEVER bring the mixture to a boil. NEVER. when the mixture has attained a pudding-like consistency, IMMEDIATELY remove it from heat and continue to stir for a few more minutes as the pudding continues to thicken. when it is ready, it should have a smooth, translucent sheen to it. pour the mixture into the receptacle of your choice...glass or ceramic ones work best. cover and refrigerate for a few hours and you'll have yourself a smooth haupia that holds its shape when cut into squares.

if a less stiff, more pudding-like haupia is desired, try reducing the cornstarch to 1/3 cup per 12 oz. can of coconut milk. if you do this, you will need to stir the mixture for a longer time before it is ready.

for large batches, it's easier to mix the cornstarch water and add it to the coconut milk one cup at a time. preparing more than 4 cans' worth of haupia at once is not recommended as the stiff pudding becomes very heavy and hard to handle in larger quantities.