RecipesSingaporeBubur Cha Cha

Bubur Cha Cha

A vibrant and textural Peranakan dessert made with colorful sweet potatoes, taro, sago pearls, and tapioca jellies in a rich, pandan-infused coconut milk broth.

Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Servings6
DifficultyMedium
Bubur Cha Cha - Singapore traditional dish

🧂 Ingredients

  • 200 g Yam (Taro)(peeled and diced into 1.5 cm cubes)
  • 100 g Orange sweet potato(peeled and diced into 1.5 cm cubes)
  • 100 g Purple sweet potato(peeled and diced into 1.5 cm cubes)
  • 60 g Tapioca flour(for tapioca jellies)
  • 2 drops Red food colouring(or 10g dark brown palm sugar, finely minced)
  • 3 drops Green food colouring(or juice of 25g young pandan leaves)
  • 1 tsp Sugar(for tapioca jellies)
  • 75 g Rock sugar(or to taste)
  • 750 ml Water(divided)
  • 6 pieces Pandan leaves(lower half only, tied in a knot)
  • 200 ml Coconut milk (full fat)
  • 0.25 tsp Salt
  • 40 g Sago pearls(large coloured sago)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

  1. 1

    Prepare the tapioca jellies: Mix tapioca flour with very hot water to form an elastic dough. Divide into two portions. Color one portion red and the other green. Roll each into a 1.5 cm thick rope, cut into 1.5 cm pieces, and dust generously with tapioca flour to prevent sticking.

  2. 2

    Boil the tapioca jellies in plenty of boiling water until they float. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

  3. 3

    In a pot, combine rock sugar, 500ml water, and pandan leaves. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add the diced yam and simmer gently over low heat for about 7 minutes until just soft. Remove yam with a slotted spoon and set aside.

  4. 4

    Add the diced sweet potatoes (orange and purple) to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer gently until just soft, about 5 minutes. Remove sweet potatoes and set aside with the yam.

  5. 5

    To the remaining syrup in the pot, add the remaining 250ml water, coconut milk, and salt. Stir to mix. Bring to a gentle simmer, then turn off the heat.

  6. 6

    Boil the sago pearls in plenty of water until translucent. Drain and rinse in cold water. Set aside.

  7. 7

    To serve, place portions of cooked yam and sweet potatoes into bowls. Scatter with tapioca jellies and sago pearls. Spoon over the warm coconut milk broth. Serve hot or chilled.

💡 Pro Tips

  • Cook yams and sweet potatoes separately to prevent them from disintegrating.
  • Use low heat when simmering the tubers to maintain their shape.
  • Freshly squeezed coconut milk provides the best flavor.
  • Rock sugar offers a cleaner taste than regular white sugar.

🔄 Variations

  • Add banana slices for extra flavor.
  • Use store-bought tapioca jellies to save time.

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