Strawberry Sago with Coconut Milk and Tapioca Pearls Recipe
Strawberry Sago is a refreshing and creamy dessert featuring fresh diced strawberries, smooth coconut milk, chewy small tapioca pearls, and sweet coconut jellies. This cold, no-bake pudding combines a blend of fruity and tropical flavors with a delightful contrast of textures, perfect for warm days or as a light, indulgent treat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southeast Asian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Strawberries
- 600 g fresh strawberries, finely diced (divided into halves of 300 g each)
Liquid Base
- 400 g coconut milk (approximately 1 can)
- 50 g granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
Tapioca and Add-ins
- 150 g small tapioca pearls
- 225 g coconut jellies (also called coconut gel or nata de coco, drained)
Instructions
- Blend: Add 300 g of the diced strawberries, coconut milk, and granulated sugar into a blender. Blend until smooth. Taste the mixture and adjust sugar if needed. Pour this blended mixture into a large serving bowl and chill it in the refrigerator while preparing the tapioca pearls.
- Cook tapioca pearls: Fill a medium pot almost full with water and bring it to a boil on the stovetop. Once boiling, add the tapioca pearls and stir. Boil uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove the pot from heat, cover it, and let the tapioca pearls steam for another 10 minutes until they become translucent throughout.
- Drain: Pour the cooked tapioca pearls into a large fine mesh sieve to drain the water. Rinse them thoroughly under cold water to stop cooking and wash away excess starch. If not using immediately, keep the tapioca pearls submerged in cold water; otherwise, drain fully and add them to the chilled strawberry-coconut mixture.
- Mix: Add the remaining 300 g diced strawberries, drained coconut jellies, and any other preferred add-ins into the bowl. Stir gently but thoroughly to combine. If the pudding is too thick, add some water to reach your desired consistency. Serve the strawberry sago chilled.
Notes
- Adjust sugar quantity based on the natural sweetness of your strawberries and personal preference.
- Rinsing tapioca pearls with cold water is crucial to prevent them from sticking together.
- If you prefer a firmer texture, reduce added water when mixing at the end.
- This dessert is best served cold and can be refrigerated for up to 1 day for optimal freshness.
- You can substitute coconut milk with almond milk or other plant-based milks, but coconut milk is preferred for authentic flavor.
