Tub Tim Krob (Thai Water Chestnut Rubies in Coconut Milk)
Local name: ทับทิมกรอบ
In short: Water chestnut cubes tinted red, coated in tapioca starch and boiled until translucent, served in sweet syrup and coconut milk over crushed ice. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 310 kcal
Tub tim krob means crisp rubies. Water chestnuts are dyed red, coated in tapioca starch and boiled until translucent, so each piece looks like a small jewel with a crunchy center. They are served in a bowl of sweet syrup and coconut milk over crushed ice, a welcome treat in Thailand's heat. The coating takes patience, but the dessert is easy to assemble once the rubies are ready.
Instructions
- Cut the water chestnuts into 1 cm (1/2 in) cubes. Toss them with the food coloring in a bowl and leave for 15 minutes, until bright red. Drain well and pat dry.
- Put the tapioca starch in a bowl. Add the red cubes and toss until each is coated, shaking off the excess in a sieve. Rest for 5 minutes, then repeat for a thicker coating.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop in the cubes in two batches and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until they float and the coating turns translucent.
- Scoop the rubies into a bowl of iced water for 2 minutes, then drain. They should be springy with a crisp center.
- For the syrup, simmer the water, sugar and pandan leaves for 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves. Cool, discard the pandan and chill.
- Warm the coconut milk with the sugar and salt just until dissolved, without boiling, then chill.
- To serve, fill bowls with crushed ice, add the rubies and jackfruit, and pour over the syrup and coconut milk.
Tips
- Keep the cubes separate when coating and boiling, or they will fuse into clumps. Use a wide pot with plenty of water.
- Eat the rubies within 2 hours of cooking. They get firm and cloudy in the fridge, but a quick dip in warm water will soften them.
Questions and answers
Can I use a natural color instead of food coloring?
Yes. Beet juice gives a pink-red color, and hibiscus tea gives a deep red. The color will be softer than with food coloring.
Can I make the rubies ahead of time?
Make them up to 2 hours ahead and keep them in iced water. They turn hard in the fridge after that.
Can I use fresh water chestnuts?
Yes. Fresh ones are crunchier. Peel them, then boil for 5 minutes in unsalted water before cutting and coloring.
How long does it take to make Tub Tim Krob (Thai Water Chestnut Rubies in Coconut Milk)?
About 45 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tub Tim Krob (Thai Water Chestnut Rubies in Coconut Milk)?
About 310 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 53 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 310 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 53 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 160 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
