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If you’ve never tried ensaymadas, you’re missing out on one of the most popular Filipino food delicacies. With simple ingredients and a time-tested technique, these sweet buns are the perfect breakfast treat or afternoon snack, with a pillowy texture and a taste you have to experience to believe. Once you’ve tried the ensaymadas at Kahului’s Plantation Grindz, you’ll leave doughnuts behind without looking back.

Here, this local favorite offers a brief guide to the classic Filipino food.

What Are Ensaymadas?

filipino foodEnsaymadas are handmade by nature, so there’s no official recipe to follow. Most families in the Philippines have their own concoction, which grants an incredible variety to this simple dish. After making the buns out of water, flour, butter, eggs, and sugar, some traditions call for some sprinkled cheese, while others top them with sliced strawberries or another fruit. The chefs at Plantation Grindz like to keep things simple, so they serve theirs with just a little butter and a dash of sugar, allowing the warm pastry to shine through.

Where Did They Come From? 

The ensaymada has a long history, going all the way back to 17th century Spain, where they were made with reduced lard and covered in cheese. When the Spanish colonized the Philippines, they brought their delicious pastries along, changing Filipino food forever. 300 years later, the people of the Philippines have made ensaymadas their own, replacing lard with butter and adding several new variants. During the holidays, you might top ensaymadas with specially aged Edam cheese or butter cream, which pairs wonderfully with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee. Today, there are even local chains that specialize in serving ensaymadas from their own private recipes.

Plantation Grindz is one of Maui’s most popular dining establishments, serving a wide variety of Portuguese, Hawaiian, and Filipino food. If you have any questions, give them a call at (808) 873-3663, or just drop by to give their ensaymadas a try. You won’t be disappointed!

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