Tapioca Pearls
"Almost everyone loves pearls! Be it in milk tea, chocolate shakes, or just simply eating them, boba or tapioca pearls are the best. In this pandemic, most milk tea businesses or shake stands are closed, and you probably miss your pearls!Groceries and supermarkets sell those ready to make tapioca pearls, but there is no harm in making ones of your own, right? The best part is that you are sure there are no artificial flavorings of substances added on your pearls. Now you have the recipe on how to make your own tapioca pearls to try!"
NotesYou can substitute cornstarch for tapioca starch, but it will be slightly different. Cornstarch will give a lighter color to your pearls. It will not be squishy as you would want it to be, but it will taste alright.
Cover the dough with cling wrap or other covering as you shape them into smaller balls to prevent it from hardening. Once hardened, it would be difficult to shape and your pearls will have irregular shapes.
When kneading, use the base of your palms, not your palms of fingers. It’s easier to knead that way. Don’t worry, it takes practice!
Serves2
Preparation Time10 min
Cooking Time2 hr
Ingredients
- 1 cup tapioca starch
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 3 cup brown sugar
- water
Instructions
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In a bowl, mix 1 cup of tapioca starch and 2 tbsp cocoa powder. Mix until well incorporated. Set aside.
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In a sauce pan, put 2/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/8 cup tapioca starch, and 1/2 cup water. Stir until starch and sugar are dissolved. Put over low fire. Stir constantly until the mixture becomes sticky.
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Turn off heat and add the dry mixture (tapioca starch and cocoa powder). Mix.
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Pour over the combined mixtures over a working table and knead the dough while slightly hot. Knead until it becomes smooth and form into a big ball.
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Cut into 4 parts. Roll each part into long logs. Once rolled, cut them into 0.5 cm small pieces.
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Shape the small pieces into small balls. Cover other pieces to prevent them from hardening. The dough will quickly harden when exposed to air, so you should cover them with cling wrap. Sprinkle some tapioca starch over the small balls/pearls to prevent them from sticking together.
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Fill water in a sauce pan and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, put the pearls into the boiling water. Cover and let it boil again over high heat for 20 minutes. Lessen the heat and let the pearls cook for another 10 minutes. Turn off the heat but keep the sauce pan covered for 30 minutes more. This will allow the pearls to cook slower without the pressure of fire.
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After 30 minutes, drain out the water from the pearls.
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In a different sauce pan, dissolve 1/4 cup of brown sugar, the remaining tapioca starch in 4 tablespoons of water. Add in the cooked pearls. Cook over low heat until the mixture becomes sticky.
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Turn off the heat, prepare your favorite milk shake or tea and add up your homemade pearls!