Strawberry Sago
Strawberry sago is a chilled Asian dessert that’s irresistibly creamy and not too sweet. It’s super refreshing and only takes 20 minutes to make!
What is Strawberry Sago?
Strawberry sago is a chilled and creamy dessert made with fresh strawberries, 3 types of milk, nata de coco, and of course, sago.
It is a strawberry version of the perhaps more popular Asian dessert, mango sago.
This dessert is also full of texture which makes it so fun eat.
Best of all, it’s the kind of dessert that will have you coming back for more because it’s irresistibly creamy and not too sweet.
I love to make this strawberry sago when it’s hot outside (which to be honest is the majority of the year here in Texas) because it is so refreshing.
It’s also the perfect dessert to make when hosting because it’s easy to make a large batch and tastes even better when you make it in advance!
RELATED: Vegan Mango Sago (Dairy Free)
Strawberry Sago Ingredients
Before you begin making strawberry sago, you’ll need to gather the following ingredients:
- Sago: Sago are like small clear tapioca pearls made from the starch of palm and has a chewy texture.
- Strawberries: You can use any kind of strawberry. My favorite are hydroponic strawberries from HEB.
- Coconut Milk or Cream: Use the canned kind because it’s creamier and adds a nice tropical flavor.
- Evaporated Milk: Similar to milk but with less water content so it has a richer, creamier taste.
- Condensed Milk: The perfect sweet and creamy sweetener for this dessert.
- Nata de Coco: Nata de coco are jelly-like coconut cubes. For this recipe I like to use strawberry flavored ones.
RELATED: Tanghulu Recipe (Chinese Candied Fruit)
How to Make Strawberry Sago
Strawberry sago is a really simple dessert to make.
It only requires 6 ingredients and about 20 minutes.
You can even make it ahead if you’re hosting because it tastes even better when the ingredients have some time to soak in the milks.
This dessert is lightly sweet, super creamy, and refreshing so it’s guaranteed to be a favorite!
Let’s walk through this strawberry sago recipe step-by-step so you can feel confident about making it yourself.
As always, there is a video tutorial and recipe card at the end that you can print out, pin to Pinterest, or save for later!
Step 1: Sago Tapioca Pearls
Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil.
I am using a 3 quart Caraway sauce pan.
Then add in the sago or small tapioca pearls to the boiling water.
Cook for about 10-15 minutes.
You will know its done cooking when the pearls turn from opaque white to clear and translucent.
Then using a strainer, drain and rinse the sago pearls with water.
This gets rid of the excess sticky tapioca starch, resulting in more defined pearls.
Afterwards set the sago aside.
RELATED: How to Make Mango Sticky Rice with Coconut Sauce
Step 2: Strawberry Milk Mixture
You can do this step while the sago is cooking.
Wash strawberries and remove the top leafy part.
Then cut the strawberries into quarters or bite sized pieces.
In a blender, make a strawberry milk mixture by combining half of the cut strawberries, coconut milk, evaporated milk, and condensed milk.
I am using an immersion hand blender but any kind of blender will work too.
Blend until it is nice and smooth.
Then set the strawberry milk mixture aside.
Step 3: Combine Ingredients
Before combining the ingredients, open the jar or package of nata de coco and drain the syrup.
If you’ve never had nata de coco before it is like cubes of coconut jelly.
It is usually packaged in syrup.
However, the syrup is pretty sweet in my opinion and not needed in this dessert in addition to the condensed milk.
Once that is drained, in a large bowl, combine the cooked sago pearls, nata de coco, the remaining cut strawberries, and the strawberry milk.
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Step 4: Taste Test & Serve
Lastly, stir to mix everything together really well.
Then taste test and adjust as needed to your liking.
Here are some suggestions for how to tweak the recipe based on your preference:
- too sweet → add more coconut and/or evaporated milk
- not sweet enough → add more condensed milk
- too dense → add more coconut and/or evaporated milk to make it more liquid
- too liquid → add more cut strawberries, nata de coco, and/or sago
- strawberry flavor → add more blended strawberries for stronger strawberry flavor
- creamy flavor → add more coconut and/or evaporated milk to tone down strawberry flavor
Strawberry sago is best eaten cold so add ice or refrigerate to chill before serving.
Leftovers & Storage
This strawberry sago recipe makes about 6 servings and is also great as leftovers.
Place any leftover into a sealed container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
When you’re ready to eat, simply scoop out the amount you want and enjoy straight from the fridge!
If it becomes too thick due to the sago absorbing the liquids, add additional coconut and/or evaporated milk to loosen it back up.
More Asian Desserts You Need to Try
If you’re a fan of this strawberry sago recipe, here are some more yummy Asian desserts that you need to try making!
Save this Strawberry Sago Recipe!
I hope this how-to guide for making strawberry sago is helpful and that you try to make this delicious treat in your own kitchen!
It’s such a simple dessert and only takes 20 minutes to make.
Be sure to save this recipe and share with your family and friends, although you’ll probably want to keep it all for youself!
If you try it, please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to know what you think of the recipe!
Did you make this recipe? I would love to see! Tag me on IG @feedmi_ or TikTok @feedmi
Strawberry Sago
Ingredients
- 1 cup sago (small tapioca pearls), uncooked
- 1 lb strawberries
- 1 cup coconut milk or cream
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 tbsp condensed milk
- 12.7 oz nata de coco, strawberry flavor
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Then add the sago or small tapioca pearls and cook for about 10-15 minutes until they are translucent. Using a strainer, drain and rinse the sago pearls under water.
- Cut strawberries into quarters or bite sized pieces. Then make strawberry milk by using a blender to blend together half of the strawberries, evaporated milk, coconut milk, and condensed milk.
- In a large bowl, combine the sago pearls, the remaining cut strawberries, nata de coco (without the syrup), and the strawberry milk.
- Mix well, taste test, and adjust to your liking. Add ice or refrigerate, serve chilled, and enjoy!
