TARO & TAPIOCA PEARL DESSERT

User Reviews

5.0

36 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    5 mins

  • Cook Time

    5 mins

  • Total Time

    25 mins

  • Servings

    6

  • Calories

    305 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert

  • Cuisine

    Asian, Chinese

TARO & TAPIOCA PEARL DESSERT

Sai mai lo (西米露) or taro sago is a classic Cantonese sweet soup dessert. This instant pot taro & tapioca pearl dessert recipe is very simple. It’s only 30 minutes!

I Made This!

Be the first!

Save this

Be the first!

Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 cups taro
  • 1 can coconut milk (14 fl oz 400ml) 
  • ½ cup sago (small tapioca pearls)
  • 2 cup water
  • ¾ cup sugar

Cook taro and sago

  • 7 cups water (1 cup to cook taro in the instant pot and 6 cups to boil sago in the pot.)
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

Instant pot method:

  1. Peel and wash a small medium sized taro (around 2 pounds). Then, cut them into small cubes. (Enough for 2 cups around 1 pound 12.2 oz.)
  2. Then, put the cut taro (2 cups) from step 1 into the instant pot and add 1 cup of water. Close the lid and vent. Push the manual button and adjust time for 3 minutes at high pressure. Then, natural release pressure. (If you dice the taro very small, I recommend doing it for 2 minutes.) However, you can also use the top stove method to boil it for 10-15 minutes until it's soft. 
  3. While cooking taro in the instant pot, use a pot to cook sago. Pour 6 cups of water into the pot, turn on medium fire and wait until water boils, add ½ cup of tapioca. Let it boil or simmer for 10 minutes. After that, cover the lid and turn off the fire. Let it wait for 5-8 minutes.
  4. Drain the cooked sago and rinse with cold water.
  5. When the taro is done, drain the water.
  6. Push the button sauté for 10 minutes. Add 1 can of coconut milk (14 fl oz 400ml), 2 cups of water and ¾ cup of sugar. Wait until it’s boiling or sugar dissolves, then turn off the instant pot. Next, add the cooked tapioca, taro and mix them.
  7. It can serve as hot or cold. (If you want to serve it cold. I suggest refrigerating the liquid and taro. But, don’t add the sago in. Cook the sago and add the sago when you are ready to serve it cold. It is because when you put the sago and liquid in the refrigerator overnight. The sago will absorb the liquid and become solid.)

Top stove method:

  1. Peel and wash a small medium sized taro (around 2 pounds). Then, cut them into small cubes. (Enough for 2 cups around 1 pound 12.2 oz.)
  2. Then, pour 4 cups of water into the pot. Turn on the fire to medium small. When the water is boiling, put the cut taro (2 cups) from step 1 into the pot and boil it for 10-15 minutes or until it's soft. 
  3. While cooking taro in the pot, use another pot to cook sago. Pour 6 cups of water into the pot, turn on medium fire and wait until water boils, add ½ cup of tapioca. Let it boil or simmer for 10 minutes. After that, cover the lid and turn off the fire. Let it wait for 5-8 minutes.
  4. Drain the cooked sago and rinse with cold water.
  5. When the taro is done, drain the water.
  6. Pour 1 can of coconut milk (14 fl oz 400ml), 2 cups of water and ¾ cup of sugar into a big pot. Turn on medium small fire, wait until it’s boiling or sugar dissolves, then turn off the fire. Next, add the cooked tapioca, taro and mix them.
  7. It can serve as hot or cold. (If you want to serve it cold. I suggest refrigerating the liquid and taro. But, don’t add the sago in. Cook the sago and add the sago when you are ready to serve it cold. It is because when you put the sago and liquid in the refrigerator overnight. The sago will absorb the liquid and become solid.)

Notes

  • Peel off taro skin, wash and cut them into cubes.
  • I used an instant pot to cook taro because it is faster. Push the manual button to adjust time for 3 minutes at high pressure and natural release. If you dice the taro very small, I recommend manual for 2 minutes and natural release. Then, drain the water.
  • You can also boil the taro using the top stove method. Boil for 10-15 minutes and check if it is soft. 
  • I found out the best way to cook small tapioca is boiling them over the stove for 10 minutes. Then, cover the lid and turn off the heat for 5-8 minutes. Drain them and rinse with cold water.
  • Pour coconut milk, water, sugar into the instant pot and put the sauté button. Wait until it’s boiling or sugar dissolves then turn off the instant pot and add sago and taro.
  • You can serve them hot or cold.
  • If you want to serve it cold. I suggest refrigerating the liquid and taro. But, don’t add the sago in. Cook the sago and add the sago when you are ready to serve it cold. It is because when you put the sago and liquid in the refrigerator overnight. The sago will absorb the liquid and become solid. 

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 305kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 46g (15%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 12g (60%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Sodium 47mg (2%) Potassium 361mg (10%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 25g (50%) Vitamin A 26IU (1%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 38mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 305 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 305kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 46g 15%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g 1%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 47mg 2%
Potassium 361mg 8%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 25g 50%
Vitamin A 26IU 1%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 38mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

36 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Taro Tapioca Dessert Soup

Chinese
4.9 (135 reviews)

Taro Sago Dessert Soup

Chinese
5.0 (39 reviews)

Taro Sago Grass Jelly Dessert Soup

Asian, Vietnamese, Vegan
0.0 (0 reviews)

Taro Coconut Sago Dessert Soup

Asian, Chinese
5.0 (12 reviews)

Tapioca Coconut Dessert Soup

Chinese
3.8 (12 reviews)

Che Chuoi (Vietnamese Banana Tapioca Dessert)

Asian, Vietnamese
5.0 (6 reviews)

How to make taro paste

Chinese
5.0 (18 reviews)

Taro Ice Cream Recipe

Asian
0.0 (0 reviews)

Taro Sago (芋香椰汁西米露)

Asian, Chinese
5.0 (12 reviews)

Instant Pot Taro Milk

Asian, Taiwanese
5.0 (18 reviews)

Taro Ice Cream (No-Churn)

Asian, Chinese
5.0 (6 reviews)

Taro & Pitaya Mochi Croissants

Asian
5.0 (18 reviews)

Taro Coconut Cake

Asian, Chinese
5.0 (15 reviews)

Easy Blender Taro Paste

Asian
5.0 (6 reviews)