Banh Da Lon (Coconut Pandan Tapioca Vietnamese Dessert)

I've been wanting to learn how to make more Vietnamese dishes. Banh Da Lon is one of Vietnam's traditional dessert. It's coconuty, sweet, and creamy. Some people may not be use to the texture because it is kind of chewy like a tapioca pearl. Before you start making this, you will need a steamer and a round pan. I used small circular bowls. Hope you enjoy!

I soaked the split mung beans with hot water for 30 minutes.

Drain and rinse the beans and boil them until the water is evaporated.

While the beans are boiling, mix in the rice flour, tapioca flour, sugar, salt, coconut milk, and water. Whisk until well combined.

Add the 1/3 portion of the coconut mixture into the boiled mung beans and blend until well mixed. 

Add the pandan extract and green food coloring.

You will start with a green layer and end with a green layer. I steamed each layer for about 4 minutes or until it is about firm, then alternate the colors.

You must let it cool before you flip it because it will become mushy if you don't

Voila!

Banh Da Lon (Coconut Pandan Tapioca Vietnamese Dessert)

Ingredients:

1/2 C peeled split mung beans, soaked in 1 C hot water for 30 minutes, rinsed and drained

3/4 C water

1 drop yellow food coloring

1 1/2 C tapioca flour/starch

1/2 C rice flour

1 C water

1 can coconut milk

1 1/2 C sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pandan extract

3 drops green food coloring

Directions:

1. Bring the soaked mung beans to a boil with 3/4 C water.

2. Once its boiled, reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer it for 10-15 minutes until the water is about evaporated. Stir intermittently, then turn off the heat.

3. While the beans are boiling, in a large bowl. mix together the tapioca flour, rice flour, water, coconut milk, sugar, and salt. Mix well with whisk.

4. After now clumps and sugar is dissolved, divide the batter into 1/3 and 2/3 portions.

5. Place boiled mung beans into a blender with the 1/3 portion of the coconut mixture. Blend about 1 minute until smooth.

6. Pour into a bowl and put 1 drop of yellow food coloring/

7. In the 2/3 portion of the coconut mixture, add the pandan extract and 3 drops of green food coloring. Mix well.

8. After mixing, prepare to steam. (You should already have the water in the steamer boiling)

9. In the steamer, carefully place a lightly greased bowl or cake pan, depending on the size of your steamer.

10. Begin to pour in the alternating colors starting with green and ending with green.

11. Cover and steam for 4 minutes.

12. Let it cool and this is a must! Remove with oiled spatula and cut with an oiled knife or cookie cutter. 

Enjoy!