Chè chuối chưng (banana tapioca pudding)
Every once in a while when the planets align the right way with the constellations, I get into cooking mode. Then I ask my mom how to make certain things, usually easy stuff, spend at least an hour at the grocery, another half a day in front of either the sink or the stove, washing, churning, tasting, sprinkling, and tasting again. Saying that I like to cook would be like saying students hate holidays, but somehow the little accomplishment at the end of a cooking session always makes me glee, partly because I wouldn’t have to worry about dinner in the few days after. (Since the first day I had a kitchen(ette), I’ve only made savory dishes.) This time is special: I didn’t spend half a day in the kitchen, and the little accomplishment is a dessert.
Now this might actually means I have che instead of rice for dinner in the next few days :-P, but all is well as my banana che is not in the least coyingly sweet like che from sandwich shops.
Recipe adapted from Mom’s instruction:
Chè chuối chưng (banana tapioca pudding) (“chưng” means “display”, in this case to indicate the type of banana one would use for this dessert, not “tapioca”)
Ingredients:
– About 3 lbs of just-ripe banana (~6 big Cavendish bananas, or 12-15 chuoi su if you can find them).
– 1 can of coconut milk
– 100-150g tapioca pearl (bột báng), the small kind (packaged as dry white dots ~1.5mm in diameter). I got a 400g package from 99 Ranch Market in El Cerrito, so I’d imagine every Asian market has a few packs tucked on their shelves.
– water, sugar, salt
– roasted peanuts (the plain, unflavored kind)
Preparation:
– Gently wash and rinse the bot bang with cold water once, then leave it soak in water.
– Cut the bananas into 2-3 inch long sections, soak in salt water (2 tsp salt for roughly half a big pot of water, the same pot you’re going to cook che in) for 5-10 minutes. This step is to get rid of, or at least reduce, the clinging underripe aftertaste of Cavendish banana in Vietnamese desserts; you can skip this step if you use chuoi su.
– Shell peanuts if necessary, then crush ’em up. (Mudpie puts them in a ziploc bag and pounds on them with an ice cream scoop, it works well :D)
– Take out the bananas, drain water, wash pot, put bananas back in. Pour 1 can of coconut milk into pot, then use the same can to measure and add 2 cans of water.
Cooking
– Wait for banana, coconut milk and water to boil, add a pinch of salt and a lot of sugar to taste. (I added about 10 tbs sugar when Mudpie expresses some concern, tastes, and stops me.)
– When the mixture boils, add bot bang (after draining them, of course), gently stir once or twice to spread them out evenly in the pot.
– Bot bang will expand, at least quadruple in size. Do not stir too much or you’d burst the pearls and get tapioca porridge. Let the pot bubble until the bot bang all turn completely translucent (if you see a tiny needle-point size dot of white in the center, it’s not cooked yet).
– Turn off the heat. The pudding will be quite fluid when it’s still hot, and will thicken as it cools down.
Serving
It can be served either hot or chilled, with or without some crushed roasted peanuts on top. Mudpie prefers it warm fresh from the pot, my mom prefers it refrigerated.
A small variation of che chuoi chung is chè bà ba, where you add taro (or cassava), cubed and cooked in coconut milk and water before the bananas. My mom says che chuoi chung is the simplest kind of che to make. As long as the bananas are soft and sweet, the tapioca pearls chewy and fully puffed, the coconut milk gives just a shy squeeze of fruity richness, and the pudding smells like a ripe summer afternoon, you know someone will come back for a second bowl of your chè chuối chưng.
– Submission to Delicious Vietnam 10, a monthly blogging event created by Anh of A Food Lover’s Journey and Hong & Kim from Ravenous Couple – This February edition is hosted by me, so send your delicious writings (your name, your blog’s name, post title, and a brilliant image of the dish) to mai [at] flavorboulevard [dot] com by Sunday February 13. 🙂
Normally I do not read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice post.
1Very interesting subject , appreciate it for putting up.
2Some truly fantastic info , Gladiolus I discovered this. “If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” by Ignacio Estrada.
3Good, I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task.
4Amazing! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a entirely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
5I saw a lot of website but I believe this one has got something extra in it in it
6I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this web site. Studying this info So i am glad to convey that I have a very good uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I so much indubitably will make certain to do not omit this web site and provides it a glance on a constant basis.
7I’m impressed, I have to say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you’ve gotten hit the nail on the head. Your idea is excellent; the issue is something that not sufficient people are speaking intelligently about. I am very glad that I stumbled across this in my search for one thing relating to this.
8I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website 🙂
9Excellent content! Your article provides useful insights and a clear explanation. It’s always interesting to discover digital entertainment websites such as PONDOK4D
10I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i’m happy to exhibit that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I most definitely will make sure to don’t put out of your mind this website and give it a look on a relentless basis.
11Hiya very cool web site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I’m satisfied to search out numerous useful information right here in the submit, we need develop more techniques on this regard, thank you for sharing.
12Thanks for sharing your insights. This was worth my time. Very helpful article, thanks again.
13Aw, this was a very nice post. In thought I want to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and not at all appear to get something done.
14Great blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your design. Cheers
15This article was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!. Thanks for sharing this useful information.
16This article was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!. Thanks for sharing this useful information.
17I will definitely keep this website in mind for future reading. This is exactly what I was looking for.
18I am glad I found this blog. Keep sharing quality content!. Thanks for sharing this useful information.
19Hello there, I found your site via Google while looking for a related topic, your website came up, it looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
20Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such excellent information being shared freely out there.
21Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?
22Its such as you read my thoughts! You seem to grasp a lot approximately this, like you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you simply can do with a few percent to power the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is great blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
23I was examining some of your blog posts on this internet site and I conceive this website is real informative! Retain posting.
24Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
25excellent points altogether, you simply gained a brand new reader. What would you recommend in regards to your post that you made some days ago? Any positive?
26Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!
27You completed a number of good points there. I did a search on the theme and found the majority of persons will consent with your blog.
28Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
29Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What a great web-site.
30It’s actually a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
31Awesome content! I learned quite a bit from this article. Very helpful article, thanks again.
32This post gave me a better understanding of the subject. Thank you!. Great work, looking forward to more posts.
33This post gave me a better understanding of the subject. Thank you!. Great work, looking forward to more posts.
34Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I found this post valuable. Nice write-up, keep it up.
35Nice work on this article. The explanations are very clear. Really appreciate the detailed explanation.
36Spot on with this write-up, I truly assume this website wants far more consideration. I’ll probably be again to read way more, thanks for that info.
37I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
38I see something genuinely special in this website.
39It’s actually a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
40I’ll immediately grab your rss feed as I can not find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
41This really answered my problem, thank you!
42Your house is valueble for me. Thanks!…
43Thanks for this terrific post, I am glad I discovered this internet site on yahoo.
44Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to send you an e-mail. I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.
45There are definitely quite a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That is a nice level to carry up. I provide the ideas above as basic inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you carry up the place crucial thing will probably be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged round things like that, but I’m sure that your job is clearly recognized as a good game. Both boys and girls feel the influence of only a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.
46You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
47I needed to send you a tiny note to help give thanks once again with the unique techniques you have featured in this article. It is really incredibly generous with you to offer extensively all that many of us might have advertised for an e book to earn some money on their own, most notably given that you could have done it if you desired. Those creative ideas likewise worked as the great way to be sure that some people have the identical zeal much like my personal own to find out very much more in respect of this issue. Certainly there are several more pleasurable occasions up front for folks who scan your site.
48When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
49Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good results. If you know of any please share. Appreciate it!
50