Cool Off This Summer With a Delicious & Refreshing Bowl of Mango Sago! 🥭🍧
Mango sago is a refreshing Cantonese dessert made with fresh mangoes and small tapioca pearls.This mango sago recipe is perfect for those who love the combination of sweet and creamy with a touch of tartness from the mangoes. It's a quick and easy dessert that can be enjoyed anytime. It’s the perfect light and fruity pudding or drink. It’s so easy to make at home with only 4 ingredients and a blender!
Mango sago is one of my favorite Cantonese desserts, especially after a big meal at a Chinese restaurant. It’s a perfect balance of fruity, sweet, and creamy without being heavy like a cake or other typical desserts.
Mango sago is a refreshing dessert that is popular in many Southeast Asian countries, particularly in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. It is a perfect treat for hot and humid days, and it's relatively easy to make.
If you’ve never had mango sago before, it’s like a mix between a pudding and a smoothie. If you like the tapioca pearls in bubble tea, you’ll love mango sago with its tiny tapioca pearls. When topped with coconut milk and more fresh mangoes, this becomes such a quick and easy dessert to make that also looks delicious and inviting.
WHAT IS MANGO SAGO?
A Cantonese dessert hailing from Hong Kong, mango sago is a type of "tong sui," a sweet soup or custard typically served hot or cold at the end of Cantonese meals. When served cold, this sweet treat is particularly enjoyed during hot weather and made with fresh mangoes, coconut milk, condensed milk, and tiny tapioca pearls.
What is mango sago made of?
Mango sago is made by blending together fresh mangoes, coconut milk and condensed milk and then adding tiny tapioca pearls or sago (more on the differences between the two below!). It’s also common to add pomelo granules on top as a mango pomelo sago. The tapioca thickens the soup up and adds a fun bubbly texture to each bite. These small tapioca pearls are not chewy, unlike large tapioca pearls in bubble tea or boba. Instead, they have a soft, jelly-like texture that melts away in your mouth.
What's the difference between sago and tapioca?
Although sago and tapioca are technically different, the terms are commonly used interchangeably. Real sago is made from the starch of the sago palm, while tapioca is made from the starch of the cassava root. However, most desserts referred to as "sago" are actually made using tapioca pearls, as sago production is difficult and expensive. Tapioca has long been used as a substitute for real sago, but the name "sago" has remained in use over time..
Real sago has a brown color and comes in varying sizes due to the hand-rolling process, while tapioca pearls are uniformly white in color and size. Despite its name, mango sago is actually made using tapioca pearls. For this recipe, I will use both terms interchangeably, but please keep in mind that we will be using tapioca pearls.
How to Make Mango Sago - A Refreshing Southeast Asian Dessert
Ingredients
To make mango sago, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 ripe mango
- 1/2 cup sago pearls
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
Instructions
- Soak the sago pearls in water for at least 15 minutes. Drain the water and set aside.
- In a small saucepan, mix the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved. Set aside to cool.
- Cut the mango in half and remove the flesh. Dice the mango into small pieces and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix the coconut milk and evaporated milk.
- In a pot, boil 4 cups of water. Add the soaked sago pearls and stir until they turn translucent. Drain and rinse the sago pearls with cold water.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked sago pearls, diced mango, and sugar syrup. Mix well.
- Gradually add the coconut milk and evaporated milk mixture to the bowl and mix until well combined.
- Chill the mango sago in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Mango sago can be served in a bowl or a glass. You can also top it with some additional diced mango, a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes, or some crushed graham crackers for some added crunch.
Variations
There are many variations of mango sago, and you can customize the recipe according to your preference. Some people like to add condensed milk or fresh cream to make the dessert creamier. Others prefer to use a different fruit, such as papaya or pineapple, instead of mango.
Conclusion
Mango sago is a delicious and refreshing dessert that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. You can experiment with different variations to create a dessert that suits your taste. So why not give this Southeast Asian dessert a try and surprise your taste buds with its unique flavor and texture?
