Strawberry Sago

DessertAsianFruitMilk
Written By Ginger L

If you didn’t already know, my kids loooove celebrating their Asian Heritage. Though only about 1/4 Asian, they both love immersing themselves in the culture…whether it’s by watching movies, going to museums, attending festivals, or eating different Asian foods. They absolutely cannot wait until I can afford a trip to Asia (The Philippines, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong…I think those are the order of the first 5 counties they’d like to visit). They think I’m made of money, but I soooo AM NOT. LoL. One day we will get there!

Desserts are our thing. My love for desserts has rubbed off on my kids. Growing up, I did a bunch of extra-curricular activities…whether it was a club, Honor Society, sports, or working…I was always super busy, but I always made time for dessert. It’s now become a sort of joke, but at 9pm every single night I made my way to the kitchen to have dessert. Cake, ice cream, pie, cookies—it was all fair game. I don’t ever remember my mom buying the dessert or baking it, but yet it always ended up on the kitchen table at 9pm. I didn’t drink coffee back then, but I did drink tea. Tea and dessert. My favorite part of the evening.

What is Strawberry Sago?

Strawberry sago is a refreshing and creamy Asian-inspired dessert made with chewy tapioca pearls (sago), sweet fresh strawberries, and a rich blend of different milks. Light yet satisfying, this chilled treat combines the fruity brightness of strawberries with the unique texture of sago, often sweetened with condensed milk. It’s perfect for summer or any time you’re craving a light, fruity dessert with a fun twist. It’s super quick to make—the longest part is waiting for it to cool in the fridge to have that yummy first bowl!

What Do I Need to Make Sago?

Living right outside of NYC, I have access to most ethnic groceries within walking distance from my home. However, most of the country is not so lucky. But even with that said, I definitely order my groceries wayyy more often than I probably should. For Asian groceries, nothing gets me out of a jam quicker than Weee! This online grocery store offers a wide variety of Asian groceries, and even offers Asian skincare, beauty & hygiene, and cleaning products! Inventories change as items run out, but they are often quickly replenished. The site even gives you the option to order some items directly from the country they are most commonly sold. These items just take longer to arrive. Cold items are packed with ice packs or dry ice, depending on how far the shipping address is from their warehouse. I’ve never had a problem with my meat, produce, or refrigerated/frozen items at delivery.

  • 1 16oz container of strawberries, washed and cut into the size of your preference (add more if you’d like!—we usually do!)

  • 1 cup Sago Tapioca Pearls or your choice from Weee

  • 20oz Coconut Jelly or your choice from Weee

  • 1 can Coconut Milk or your choice from Weee

  • 1 can Evaporated Milk (I always use lowfat) or your choice from Weee

  • 1/2 to 1 whole can Sweetened Condensed Milk (sweeten to your liking) or your choice from Weee

If you choose to order from Weee, be sure to use my Weee referral link for $10 off your first two orders, for $20 total!

Directions

  1. Prepare 1 cup of Sago according to package. If there are no directions, prepare as follows:

    • Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.

    • Add 1 cup of Sago Tapioca Pearls

    • Stir, reduce heat to simmer, and cover (I like to stir frequently, though some people do not find this necessary)

    • Once pearls are mostly translucent (some can still be white) rinse and drain under cold water

  2. Combine drained and cooled sago, strawberries, coconut jelly, coconut milk, evaporated milk, and condense milk in a bowl and stir together

  3. Chill to your liking

  4. Serve and Enjoy!

Other Variations

Feel free experimenting with different fresh fruit and flavored coconut jellies. For my next batch of Sago I plan on making Mango Sago with fresh mango pieces and mango flavored condensed milk. I also want to try making an Ube Sago this summer! The possibilities are endless here! Go have fun with this and leave a comment on how you make yours!

Ginger L