We are sharing a KUIH RECIPE today...it's Blue Pea Flower Tapioca Sago Talam. This is a Steamed Tapioca(Cassava) Sago Pearls Kuih, a simple yet yummy kuih. You may change the color to your favorite color by adding a few drops of food coloring instead of the blue pea flower extract.

Recipe by Mama Ding

Total Time 1 hour 45 mins

Prep Time 1 hour 10 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Servings : 1 tray (20x20cm/8x8 inch)

Ingredients

400 g (14 oz) tapioca, peeled and grated
1 tsp salt or to taste
150 ml (1/2 cup + 2 tbsp) coconut milk, fresh or carton
100 g (1/2 cup) castor sugar
100 g (1/2 cup) sago pearls, soaked for 1 hour in 250 ml/1 cup of blue pea flower extract*
2 screwpine/pandan leaves, cut into 5 cm length

For topping~

1/2 cup fresh grated coconut, seasoned with 1/2 tsp salt (steamed for 10 mins)

Method

01 Using a sieve or a muslin bag, squeeze out the bitter juice from the grated tapioca. Discard the juice.

02 In a large mixing bowl, mix together tapioca, sugar, salt and coconut milk. Set aside.

03 Place your sago pearls in a heatproof bowl. Soak your sago pearls in the bluepea flower extract.

After 1 hour, prepare a steamer. Steam the bowl of sago for 10 mins on high heat. Stir after 5 mins.

Don’t worry if the center of the sago is still white. There will be a small dot of white in the center at this point. Continue steaming after stirring.

04 Turn off heat after 10 mins and remove the bowl of sago from the steamer. Combine with tapioca mixture. Mix well to combine to become a smooth paste..

05 Line (with parchment paper/banana leaves) or grease a 8x8” (20x20 cm) tray.

Place the cut pandan leaves at the bottom of the tray. Transfer the mixture into the tray.

Level the top with a spoon/spatula. Steam on medium heat for 35 mins. When done, turn off heat.

Remove from steamer and set aside to cool completely.

06 Cut into pieces with a plastic knife or an oiled knife.

Sprinkle some grated coconut on top and serve. You may also coat the whole piece of kuih with the grated coconut, if preferred.

Serve warm or chilled.

07 Store unfinished portion in the refrigerator.

Keeps well up to 5 days if stored in the refrigerator and up to a month in the freezer. If stored in the freezer, steam on high heat until softened (about 10 mins) before consuming.

Grated coconut needs to be stored separately and to be used up within 2 days in the fridge.

Notes

To prepare the blue pea flower extract:

Boil about 50 fresh or dried blue pea flowers in 300 ml of water. Boil for 10 mins. Strain with a sieve to get 250 ml of blue pea extract. Allow to cool completely before using to soak the sago pearls.

If you are using food coloring, just soak the sago pearls in 250 ml of water. Add 2 to 3 drops of food coloring and stir before steaming for 10 mins. After steaming, add to the tapioca mixture. Mix well then pour into the greased/lined tray. Steam on medium heat for 35 mins. Remove and set aside to cool before cutting.