Banana, Coconut, and Tapioca Pearl Soup*

By RJamoralin

This creamy, sweet dessert is a favorite Vietnamese street snack.

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup small tapioca pearls
• (about 1⁄8" in diameter)
• 1 lb. firm-ripe bananas, peeled
• and cut crosswise into 3⁄4"-thick slices
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄8 tsp. kosher salt
• 1⁄2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. unsalted roasted peanuts,
• for garnish (optional)

Details

Servings 4
Adapted from saveur.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Bring 2 1⁄2 cups water to a boil over high heat in a 2-qt. saucepan. Stir in the tapioca pearls and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pearls are translucent and the liquid has thickened, about 12 minutes. To check tapioca pearls for doneness, look for a tiny white dot in the center of the pearl; if you don't see one, continue to cook.


2. Add bananas, coconut milk, sugar, and salt and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring occasionally, until the bananas are just soft and the flavors have melded, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and let soup cool for 10 minutes. Ladle soup into small bowls and top with peanuts, if you like.