Chè Chuối (Banana and Tapioca Pearls in Coconut Milk)
Local name: Chè chuối
In short: Sweet ripe bananas and chewy tapioca pearls in warm coconut milk, topped with roasted peanuts and sesame, a classic Vietnamese chè. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 480 kcal
Chè chuối is one of the simplest and most comforting Vietnamese desserts. Small bananas are simmered briefly in sweetened coconut milk, then joined by chewy tapioca pearls and finished with crushed roasted peanuts and toasted sesame. It is served warm on cooler days and over ice in summer. The sauce is lightly thickened with tapioca starch, so it coats the spoon, and a knotted pandan leaf adds a grassy, vanilla-like aroma if you can find one.
Instructions
- Bring the 1 liter of water to a boil. Stir in the tapioca pearls and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until mostly translucent with a tiny white dot in the center. Cover, turn off the heat and leave for 10 minutes.
- Drain the pearls in a sieve and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
- In a clean pot, bring the 250 ml of water, the sugar, salt and pandan leaf to a boil. Add the banana pieces and simmer for 5 minutes, until just tender. Do not let them turn mushy.
- Pour in the coconut milk and heat gently, just below a boil, for 3 minutes.
- Stir in the tapioca starch mixture and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, until the sauce thickens lightly. Remove the pandan leaf and fold in the tapioca pearls.
- Serve warm in bowls, topped with peanuts and sesame, or chill and serve over ice.
Tips
- Use small bananas that are ripe but still firm, such as lady finger or sugar bananas. Soft, very ripe bananas dissolve into the sauce, and a hard boil can split the coconut milk.
- The sauce thickens as it cools, so add a splash of water when reheating. Keep the pearls in the sauce, because they turn hard when stored dry.
Questions and answers
What bananas should I use for chè chuối?
Small, sweet, firm-ripe bananas are best. Plantain or cooking bananas also work if you simmer them a little longer, until tender.
Can I make chè chuối ahead of time?
Yes. Keep the pearls and the banana sauce separate in the fridge for up to 2 days, then combine and warm gently.
Why did my tapioca pearls turn hard?
They harden when chilled outside of liquid. Rinse them and add them to the warm sauce just before serving, or store them in the sauce.
How long does it take to make Chè Chuối (Banana and Tapioca Pearls in Coconut Milk)?
About 50 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Chè Chuối (Banana and Tapioca Pearls in Coconut Milk)?
About 480 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 79 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 480 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 79 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 150 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
