Thursday 11 March 2010

Simple Homemade Dessert

It is a wonderful thing to be able to replicate a popular dessert at home.


I copied a Mango Sago with Pomelo recipe from this Food and Travel magazine several months ago. The reason why it took me so long to try is that I never seems to be able to buy both the mango and pomelo at the same time?! The opportunity finally arrived when I saw Thai honey mangoes on sale, and at the same time spotted a full cart of pomelos at the neighbourhood fruit stall. Even though I bought both fruits on the same day, I wasn't able to prepare the dessert right away as I had to wait for several days before the mangoes were fully ripened.

The recipe appears to be simple and straight forward, actually it is too simple since it doesn't even provide any instructions on how to cook the sago pearls. So, for a lousy cook like me, it is not surprising that I burnt the sago pearls while trying to cook them in a pot of cold water! I only managed to find out later that the correct way is to cook the pearls in a pot of boiling water, that way, the pearls would not stick to the bottom of the pan and there won't be any chance of getting them burnt. A lesson learnt!

I tweak the recipe a little by replacing the coconut milk with fresh milk. I am not sure whether this homemade version is comparable to the ones you get from restaurants and dessert shops, but, I am very satisfied with how delicious and refreshing it turned out. The taste was not compromised even though I used low fat fresh milk and low-fat evaporated milk.

Here's sharing with you a small tip...I placed the dessert in serving bowls and popped them in the freezer for about an hour or so before serving. The mixture turned a little icy and this became the best dessert especially on a hot and humid day :)



Mango Sago with Pomelo

Ingredients:
100g sago pearls
150g mango puree**
1 fresh mango, peeled and diced
1/4 fresh pomelo, peeled and separated
200 ml fresh milk** (I used Meiji Low Fat milk)
250 ml evaporated milk (I used low fat version)
120g white granulated sugar**
200 ml water
200g ice cubes

(**note:
- original recipe calls for 120ml coconut milk and 80ml of full cream milk, I replaced it with low-fat fresh milk.
- I cut down the sugar from 150g to 120g
- I used 150g mango puree instead of 30g)


Method:
  1. To make the mango puree, remove the flesh of 1 mango and blend it in a blender. If you do not have a blender like me, simply mash the mango (use very soft and ripened mango) with a fork.
  2. Soak sago pearls in water for 5 mins, drain and set aside. Place about 2 litres of water in a large pot and bring it to a full boil. Add the sago pearls and cook until translucent (about 5 ~ 10mins). Keep the water at a rolling boil all the time, stirring occasionally to prevent the pearls from setting to the bottom of the pot. Remove from heat, cover the pot and set aside for about 5 mins. Drain and rinse the sago pearls under running water until cool (this helps to remove any excess starch), drain and set aside.
  3. Mix fresh milk, evaporated milk, sugar and water in a pot. Heat over low heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the ice cubes. When the ice cubes are melted, add in mango puree. Stir to combine. Mix in the sago pearls.
  4. Allow the mixture to cool completely and chill it in the fridge for at least 3 hours.
  5. Serve with diced mango and pomelo.

53 comments:

Irene's Footprints said...

Wow this looks the same as those served in restaurants. I have long wanted to do this too....cooling for this sort of hot weather.

Nice dessert!

Nash Nordin said...

The dessert looks good..
I don't really like pamelo, and was wondering about the combination of mango and pamelo. Is it good?

ann low said...

This is beautiful and refreshing dessert. Would like to try this out. Thanks ;)

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Looks very refreshing! Already told my MIL that we should make this and she second that. ;) Will let you know how it turned out.

Passionate About Baking said...

This looks like those served in the restaurant. For our kind of weather, this is refreshing anytime!

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

I need this dessert especially in this super hot weather!Thanks for sharing.

MaryMoh said...

Looks very refreshing and delicious. I love this type of dessert.

Homegirl said...

Wah, looks v yummy and delicious! Thumbs up... my fav dessert in the dim sum restaurant...

Cosy Bake said...

This is certainly a great cooling dessert to have during such hot weather. I'm sure you have done the right thing by replacing the coconut milk to Evaporated milk. Yummmmmm!!!

sherlyn said...

hmm ...... sago honeydew is one of my favourite, and I am sure I will love this ... I came across this dessert recipe recently too, but not sure from which magazine or book .... taking away coconut milk has certainly made this dessert less fattening, so more reason to enjoy more. :-)

Blessed Homemaker said...

My MIL just made this on Tuesday :) I can't take pomelo so this is not a dessert I appreciate. Yours look delicious.

Kitchen Corner said...

Wah! I think this is absolutely refreshing for this terrible hot day. Thanks for sharing this great dessert recipe, I've some mango in the fridge, will give it a try if I can get the pomelo. Cheers!

Shirley @ Kokken69 said...

HHB, thanks for posting this very timely dessert. With the mango season and the hot weather and ... the left over Pomelo from Chinese New Year, this is totally appropriate.

Anonymous said...

mango desserts are amazing.
one of my favourite desserts in restaurants.
esp with sago/pomelo!
awesome for singapore's weather. heh.

Pei-Lin said...

I love 楊枝甘露!! Yours looks perfect on hot, hot days like these!!! Hope I can settle down and make this someday ... Too busy, too little time and yet too many recipes to try ... =(

Angie's Recipes said...

I must try this one soon! Looks so inviting and refreshing!

Allie said...

Looks lovely! This dessert is one of my favourites :)

tasteofbeirut said...

So lucky to have found you! I just made a mango pudding and was not too happy with the result; I would love to try cooking with sago pearls to expand my horizon!

tini said...

thank u for sharing on the recipe n how to cook the sagos! i made it for my family yest n it's really yummy tho the evaporated milk taste is a little strong. love it! =)

Bakericious said...

the dessert looks yummy. i am using another recipe which taste very gd too :)

prpltrmpt said...

This is such a nice website! I love to bake and cook, so I will definitely be looking at more posts =)

I also have a favor to ask of you- I actually found your blog while trying to search for wlteef.blogspot.com 's email address =( I think she recently made her blog invite only, but I would like to email her to ask me to put on her list. Would you be able to ask her to add me to her reading list? I love her recipes!

I am excited to try some of your recipes as well!! Keep it up !

FC88 said...

I was looking for the recipe and wow, yours look so much like the one I tried at restaurant. This must be delicious, I got to see if I can find the ingredients here. Thanks for sharing.

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi 愛 - ちゃん, the mango and pomelo combo is nice!

Hi tini, I am glad you like this recipe :)

Hi prpltrmpt, I don't have her email address. I like her blog too, what a pity we can't access her blog now :(

Verena said...

Wow, this looks so delicious!!! I´m gonna try this. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful recipes!!!

tigerfish said...

Looks good. Very very good. I want some now.

Anonymous said...

Aloha Happy Homebaker , I finally wanted to write you and let you know i love what you doing ..the baking ...the writing ...the Pictures are so much enjoyed by me and my Familie ....I can cook realy good but i could not bake anything for me always to comlicated to find thousends of ingredients ...1 year ago I cam across your Blog and all over I started to bake again only this time it actually tasted good and looked good , i am now baking bred and all sorts of things with so much joy because of you and your easy to fallow blogs ....I come to your Blog every other day to find something special and I just felt the need to tell you that because of you I am also a Happy Homebaker now ..lol I wish you had a Book I would be the first one to get a copie ... many many thanks and a warm Aloha from Hawaii .
Anja

Unknown said...

Hi HHb
need to ask u sth about the marshmallow cake. can u advise when is the appropriate time to start preparing the jelly layer. should i wait about 20 mins after i put the marshmallow layer in the freezer to cook the jelly? i am worried that if i cook the jelly too early, it may start to set before the marshmallow layer is hardened. if i cook it too late, then the marshmallow layer may get too hard.
appreciate it if you can reply asap as i am planning to make the cake tomorrow (finally)
thks
octopusmum

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Octopusmum, you can refer to my reply to your questions you asked earlier in that post. It is kind of difficult to give the exact timing. Maybe you can prepare the jelly layer just before you are ready to place the fruits onto the marshmallow layer?? This way, you are certain that the marshmallow layer is firm enough. Next, you need to freeze the cake with the fruit layer for another 10-15mins, during this time you the jelly layer is left to cool off, and if time is running out, you can always let the jelly mixture cool off quickly by setting it over a bowl of cold water. Dont worry too much, the jelly mixture will not set so quickly. Hope you have a good time making this cake :)

Anonymous said...

Hi HHB

i did search for my previous question but don't think it is the same. in any case, thks v much for the new tips! i will be adding gelatine to the jelly so it may set faster. but i guess i can make it earlier...
regards
octopusmum

Anonymous said...

HI HHB

would like to report back on the marshmallow cake. Thks for all your tips, it is a success! My kids love it. The process was quite smooth sailing until i poured the jelly layer over the fruits. i did test first but some of the fruits (mainly those which are not directly on the marshmallow layer)started to float when i poured the jelly in. i had to scoop up the jelly layer, rearrange the fruits and pop it back to the freezer again. next time i will try the peach version..
i did the matcha swiss roll with azuki bean too. but it was a flop! the whole thing looks like a flat pillow with layers of red bean in between. the egg and sugar mixture was beaten till stiff, not sure if that was the reason, it was v difficult to roll the cake and there were cracks everywhere. not sure if i have the courage to try swiss rolls again:(
octopusmum

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Octopusmum, so happy to hear that you have great success with the marshmallow cake :) I felt bad when I read your previous comment as I was in a hurry and didnt really realised that your latest question was not really related to the ones that was posted earlier, so sorry! can forgive me??

As for the swiss roll, the egg and sugar mixture should be beaten till you can 'draw' a digit 8 with the whisk and the trail should not disappear immediately. I suspect the sponge layer cracked due to over baking?? The sponge layer became too dry?? Swiss roll is quite tricky, you are not the only one who is afraid to try it, I will only try whenever I feel 'lucky' :) Anyway, there are still lots of other cakes and bakes to try don't get too put off by the swiss roll!

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Anja, thank you for leaving your kind comments :) I am so glad to know that you are also a Happy Homebaker :D

Anonymous said...

Hi HHB
no worries, i know i can be pretty annoying sometimes when i kept asking questions so thanks for your patience! for the swiss roll, i didn't get to make digit 8 because the mixture was v stiff, almost like the stiff peak stage when beating egg white for chiffons. and i baked it for 10 mins, but i spent sometime trying to put in plastic bag. i put it in , took out again, changed to another bag and took out again , finally, use a muffin tray to cover it. not sure if this affects the cake. the surface was very sticky and stuck to the baking paper. anyway, will try again if i felt "lucky" next time :)
octopusmum

Anonymous said...

Hi HHB,

Is this dessert watery type of pudding type ?

In the photo it looks like jelly type, but notice no agar agar in the recipe.

Appreciate your advice.
Kim

K.Nor said...

hi HHB.. i would like to copy & paste this recipe in my blog.. my hb & I really enjoy this dessert.. so yummy... tq

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Kim, this dessert is in liquid form, not jelly or pudding :)

Hi K.Nor, glad to know that you enjoyed this dessert. I made it again yesterday ;) You may copy the recipe but I would appreciate it if you could put a link back to this post, thanks.

The Apprentice Housewife said...

Hi HappyHomebaker, floated here from another site. This looks really good. I've been wanting to try this for some time, will attempt ur recipe soon!

YM said...

Hi, I chanced upon your blog, thanks for sharing the photos and recipes, I'll try this mango sago with pomolo with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi YM, thanks for visiting :) It's a good idea to pair if with ice cream, but this dessert is in liquid form, so the ice cream may sink?

iwhip.iwok.icraft said...

Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I have tried it and it's great. I have featured it in my blog.

http://iwhipiwokicraft.blogspot.com

amna said...

hi there,

where can i get rosemary plant in singapore? any idea?

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi iwhip.iwok.icraft, I read your post, but I had problem leaving a comment on your blog, just want to say you have done a very nice step-by-step recipe :)

Hi Nags, I got my rosemary plant (stem cutting) from the States. However, I have seen it at Far East Floral but I think they dont come in bulk, so it is better to call to check.

Homegirl said...

Hi HHB,

Just want to ask where you purchase your bowl? Look kawaii... Can it be used to put into oven?

:)

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Homegirl, I got it from Daiso, a couple of years ago. It is actually a small ramekin, and yes, it can be used for baking in the oven. I have not seen these coloured ones in Daiso any more...so far those available are plain white. Hope you got luck finding them, they are very pretty.

Homegirl said...

HHB, Think you are right. The coloured ones are not available in Daiso now (I just went to check out on Sunday)... Did not manage to see any white ones that can be used in oven either. Let me try again next trip to Daiso. Thanks for the info. :)

PlumLeaf 李葉 said...

My mum loves this dessert and is FOREVER going on and on about how to make this!!! I have since found her 2 different recipes - neither of which she has tried out yet!
Her birthday is in 2wks time & I've decided I will make her some! Would you recommend using the longish (yellow) Thai Mangoes or just the regular roundish mango but ripe?

(I got this link by reading about the bloggers meet on bakericious! sounds like you had a great time!)

PlumLeaf 李葉 said...

...just thought. It's not Pomelo season. What do you suggest if I can't locate any? Do you think Pink grapefruit will work or will it be too sour/bitter?

Maybe I'll just make this but call it Mango in Sago Milk? 芒果西米露

Happy Homebaker said...

PlumLeaf, No, I won't suggest you use grapefruits, it will be too sour, and the 'pulps' will be smaller than pomelo. You can try using Thai pomelo...red pulps, can get from neighbourhood fruit stalls sometimes or even ntuc. I have seen it at those fruit stalls at Chinatown (the one besides OG). The other way is to wait...since mooncake festival is round the corner...usually there will be pomelos (am I right?), if not then don't add pomelo. Just make Mango Sago for your mum's birthday, then make again when you get pomelo. As for mango, can use any type, as long as it is well riped and sweet.

btw, I did not attend the bloggers gathering.

Anonymous said...

yummy!!!

Child of God said...

Hi there. I'm inspired by you and would like to make this for a gathering tomorrow. was wondering how many servings can I make using this recipe?

Thanks a lot!

Eliza

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Eliza, this recipe serves 4 ~ 6.

Eliza said...

Thanks a lot. I made it last night and my friends absolutely loved it! Great recipe! Easy to follow too. Thanks! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow,its looks nice

im gonna try to make it this pudding