Bubur Cha Cha (Coconut Milk Dessert Soup)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Easy

Bubur Cha Cha (Coconut Milk Dessert Soup)

A warm, creamy coconut soup scented with pandan and filled with soft cubes of orange and purple sweet potato, taro and chewy tapioca pearls. It can also be served chilled over crushed ice. Makes 6 bowls in about 55 minutes.

Prep 20 min

Cook 35 min

Total 55 min

Yield 6 bowls

Diet Dairy free, Gluten free, Vegan

Ingredients

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bowls

3 ½ oz (100 g)orange sweet potato, peeled, 1/2 inch cubes
3 ½ oz (100 g)purple sweet potato, peeled, 1/2 inch cubes
7 oz (200 g)taro, peeled, 1/2 inch cubes
3 oz (80 g)small tapioca pearls
1 cup (250 ml)coconut milk
2 cups (500 ml)water
⅔ cup (120 g)granulated sugar
1 pinch (1 g)fine salt
¼ oz (10 g)pandan leaves, tied in a knot

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Instructions

Steam the sweet potato and taro cubes together over high heat for about 10 minutes, until a fork slides in easily but they still hold their shape.
Boil the tapioca pearls in plenty of water about 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until mostly translucent. Cover, rest 10 minutes, then drain and rinse in cold water.
Simmer the 500 ml water with the sugar, salt and knotted pandan over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves.
Turn the heat to low and stir in the coconut milk. Keep it below a boil so it does not curdle.
Taste and adjust sweetness, then remove the pandan.
Stir the steamed vegetables and tapioca pearls into the soup and serve warm, or chill and serve cold over crushed ice.

Tips

Steam the purple sweet potato rather than boiling it so it does not stain the soup.
Rinse the cooked pearls so they do not clump.
Add a splash of water when reheating, since the pearls thicken the soup as it sits.
Good with pandan tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make bubur cha cha (coconut milk dessert soup)?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 6 bowls.

How should I store bubur cha cha (coconut milk dessert soup)?

Refrigerate up to 2 days; reheat gently and thin with water or coconut milk.

Can I make bubur cha cha (coconut milk dessert soup) ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

A sweet coconut milk dessert soup popular in Malaysia and Singapore, with sweet potato, yam and tapioca pearls. Serve it with pandan tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

233 Calories / serving

9.1g Fat

37.5g Carbs

2.1g Protein

23.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~1398 cal · 55g fat · 225g carbs · 13g protein · 138g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.