If you crave something sweet and are open to try something new and different, this Vietnamese Banana Tapioca Pudding (Che Chuoi) is exactly what you need. Made with tapioca pearls, coconut milk, banana, and mango, this exotic dessert can be served both warm and chilled!
Today was the day when I've tried tapioca for the first time in my whole life. For those who doesn't know what the hell it even is - it's a starch extracted from the cassava root. Expanding my palate and trying new things is one of my favorite activities, so I am sitting here writing this post happy as a clam. My culinary quest for the hidden gems of the dessert world led me to Vietnam where I came across the traditional banana tapioca pudding called Che Chuoi. Che is a word for any Vietnamese sweet soup, beverage or pudding, while Chuoi translate as bananas. Simple as that.
This Vietnamese dessert is made of small white tapioca pearls, coconut milk, and ripe bananas. I've also added some mango slices to bring more color and taste to it. Some recipes I found online require pandan leaves, however, I wasn't able to find them. If you will, you can add them together with the coconut milk and remove when everything is done. You are not supposed to eat them, they just bring the flavor.
The texture of Che Chuoi is not thick like we are used to in Western style puddings. It is more like a sweet stew. This banana tapioca pudding is usually served warm, but you can chill it before eating without any problems. To be frank, my wife and I loved the chilled version more.
I love the versatility of this dessert. It can comfort and warm you up on a cold winter morning, as well as refresh on a hot summer day. Perfect! To sum up: if you crave something sweet and are interested in trying something exotic - go for it. I can honestly say that I will be making this delightful pudding many times more. No doubts about it.
Che Chuoi - Vietnamese Banana Tapioca Pudding
Ingredients
- ½ cup (100g) tapioca pearls
- 1 can (14 oz or 400ml) coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- ⅓ cup (65g) sugar
- 3 ripe bananas , peeled, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds , toasted
- 1 mango , peeled, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Soak the tapioca pearls in cold water for at least an hour prior cooking.
- Drain well. Put in a big saucepan with 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cook for 10-15 minutes until the tapioca pearls are opaque and softened. Drain. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan over low heat, combine the coconut milk, water and sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until the sugar dissolves.
- Add bananas to the saucepan and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Add the cooked tapioca pearls and gently stir to combine. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and set aside to cool and thicken.
- Spoon into individual bowls, sprinkle with sesame seeds and top with mango slices. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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Tweety Twee
I look forward to trying this tomorrow. I grew up eating as a child; but never really learn how to prepare it. I actually just like the flavor of the bananas in the pudding, but not the textures. Even in my twenties, I still leave the banana behind. This recipe seemed manageable. I’ll probably use pandan flavoring instead of the leaves. I don’t have time to get it from my sister’s house. I’ll update later on about the results. Thank you.
Ngan Dinh
This recipe was very easy to follow and the che was delicious. Thanks for well written directions. I like it sprinkled with peanuts.
Ben
Very good. Thks