Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts (Pūpūs)

My mom lived on the Pacific island of Kwajalein for a number of years when she was rising up, and sometimes ate bacon-wrapped water chestnuts as a snack. Snacks and appetizers are referred to as pūpū. Since we ate these on a regular basis, our household merely referred to as this dish pupu. It’s the snack of snacks for us! The recipe has lengthy been a household favourite and is actually made with love! It begins with a easy however flavorful marinade that’s candy, savory, and has a bit chunk from ginger and garlic. The mixture of those flavors with salty and crisp bacon is unbelievably delicious! However whereas the style is large and daring, you’ll be glad to comprehend it takes little or no effort to make.

What makes this model particular is that I’ve examined a number of completely different elements and strategies over many years to nail down one of the best flavors and cooking strategies. Once we say this recipe is tried-and-true, we imply it! I’ve slowly tweaked portions right here and there: including or decreasing bits of garlic and ginger to seek out the proper quantity, attempting kind of brown sugar, and swapping pineapple juice for citrus soda. Little by little, these changes have created a flavorful water chestnut marinade that’s merely irresistible AND really easy to make!

Ingredient Notes

• Bacon: use skinny strips of high quality pork bacon to simply wrap across the water chestnuts. Don’t attempt to swap with turkey bacon or low cost bacon that may collapse.
• Water Chestnuts: go away them entire and don’t attempt to lower in items.
• Soy Sauce: use common or low-sodium soy sauce. For a soy-free dish be happy to swap with coconut aminos.
• Lemon Lime Soda: any alternative of name like Sprite. You should use pineapple juice for a extra tropical style, however we want the soda.
• Brown Sugar: gentle brown is greatest for a candy however mellow style.
• Ginger and Garlic: use freshly minced for probably the most taste. In a pinch you possibly can swap recent garlic on this recipe with 1/8 teaspoon of dry garlic.

Chef’s Suggestions

Examine earlier than chopping the bacon. Usually the strips of bacon are lower in half earlier than wrapping across the water chestnuts. However earlier than slicing, first verify the size of the bacon versus the dimensions of the chestnuts. If the water chestnuts are on the smaller facet, you would possibly be capable of lower the bacon strips into thirds.

When inserting within the toothpick, generally the water chestnut can break up. You’ll want to push the toothpick via the middle, not the sting to forestall splitting. Go straight via, attempting to not wiggle the toothpick an excessive amount of. Watch your fingers!

Use a baking sheet that’s lined with parchment paper for fast and straightforward cleanup.

Use tongs to show the water chestnuts midway via cooking. That is vital so that each one sides of the bacon will be crisp.

Preserve your eyes on them. The bacon crisping up would be the cue to know they’re achieved. Take away them from the oven promptly so that they don’t overcook.

Prep forward and marinate the water chestnuts for as much as 24 hours previous to cooking.

Let the children assist! Present them a few times wrap and safe the bacon, then allow them to have at it. The marinade comes collectively simply in a single bowl and is poured proper on prime of the pan. Everybody can have enjoyable within the kitchen, and also you’ll be free to work on different dishes. (Or take a bit well-deserved break!)

What to Serve with Pūpūs

Crisp water chestnuts wrapped in bacon are a scrumptious facet or major dish the entire household loves. Pair them with savory island meals like kalua pork or savory pulled ham, Hawaiian bbq chicken, or spam fried rice. Spotlight the sweetness of the water chestnuts and likewise serve with a fruit salad, slices of recent or grilled pineapple, or slices of mango.

They’re at all times a success as an appetizer for get-togethers, potlucks, and events. Actually, any event! Serve crunchy, candy and salty water chestnuts alongside different finger meals snacks like cream cheese and avocado wontons and crab rangoons.