This dragonfruit sago is a vibrant and refreshing dessert drink with the combination of vibrant dragonfruit and chewy sago pearls. This is also an easy recipe making a crowd pleasing delightful drink.
Why this dragonfruit sago drink?
First of all, this is an addictive dessert! Creamy sweet milk mixture, with coconut jellies, vibrant dragonfruit, chewy tapioca pearls, this blend of ingredients creates a unique dessert experience that will keep you going for the recipe again and again.
Next, this is a vibrant dessert. The pink pitaya adds a beautiful pink color that attracts visually. This exotic and elegant dessert is super easy to make. In addition, it is flavor and texture packed.
As I said earlier, the preparation is incredibly easy. All you have to is mix everything together and serve. Is there anything that could be that easier?
Further, the jelly used in this recipe is gelatin free and hence this dessert is great when you have vegetarian friends. Making jelly isn't hard at all, and I make different versions to make Berry Falooda or Sago at Gulaman, where fruit jellies are an ingredient. The jelly recipe is also super easy and I have attched the recipe of the same here. Moreover, the dessert has coconut jelly as well as dragonfruit jellies enriching the dessert experience.
Simple ingredients and lovely flavors make this vibrant drink as winner go to recipe!
Ingredients
Sago - Small taioca pearls are used in this recipe. You may use either small or big tapioca pearls in this recipe.
Dragonfruit - Pink flesh dragonfruit gives the characteristic vibrant color to this dessert. Fresh cut chunk and jellies are made with pink flesh pitaya. White flesh dragonfruit chunks are also added to the dessert to add flavor. You may also susbtitute this quantity with the pink flesh ones.
Milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk - A combination of these three milk gives the perfect sweetness and consistency to this recipe.
Agar agar - this is the gelling agent to make coconut and dragonfruit jellies for this recipe.
Coconut water and coconut milk - These are used to make coconut jelly. These add to the tropical flavords in this dessert.
Water - to cook tapioca pearls and to make dragonfruti jelly
Difference between sago and tapioca
Though sago and tapioca look similar, they are from different plants. Sago is from the pith of palm whereas tapioca is from the root of tapioca plant or yucca. In many South Asian countries tapioca is known as sago. This recipe uses tapioca pearls. You may use either one, make sure to cook according to the package directions.
Serving Suggestions
Although this can be served warm too, my personal way to serve this is cold. Nothing beats a cold dessert on a hot summer day.
That being said, you can prepare this ahead of time and then serve for a big gathering as this is super easy to make.
This recipe easily serves about 12-14. But I will advice you that you will run out of this dessert quickly as people will definitely go for second and third helpings. I would advice you make more of this easy recipe. This recipe can be easily scaled up or down to suit your needs.
This dessert drink could be served warm or chilled. In our family, we love this chilled and I would highly recommend that you serve that way. When serving for a bigger crowd, place this dessert drink on a tray of ice to keep it chilled for a long time. This is the easiest and addictive dessert for any occasion!
Storage
This is a milk based drink and hence it is always a better idea to store it chilled. You can store this drink in the refrigerator for a couple of days if you have any leftovers. Serve this straght from the fridge as this is amazing when it is chilled.
Making jellies with agar agar
Agar agar is a polysaccharide that is obtained from the algae. It acts as a gelling agent at higher temperatures and that is why boiling the mixture with agar agar is required. Once it is set by cooling, it is not reversible. The quantity used in this recipe used makes soft jellies, if you prefer a harder one, increase the quantity of agar agar by a little.
More dragonfruit recipes
Apparently, the vibrant pink pitaya is everyone's favorite fruit for its nutrition and vibrant color. Checkout the following dessert and drink recipes listed here.
Melon Dragonfruit Berry Smoothie
Dragonfruit Sago
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Sago
- ⅔ cup Condensed milk
- ½ cup Evaporated milk
- 1 cup Milk
- ⅔ cup White dragonfruit chopped
- 1 cup Pink dragonfruit chopped
- Dragonfruit jelly
- coconut jelly
- ¾ cup Popping boba
- 1 cup Ice cubes
Dragonfruit jelly
- ½ cup Pink dragonfruit fresh or frozen
- ¼ cup Water
- ½ tsp Agar agar
Coconut Jelly
- ⅓ cup Coconut Milk
- ⅓ cup Coconut water
- ½ tsp agar agar
Instructions
- To a bowl, add the coconut milk and coconut water, and bring to a boil. Add the agar agar powder and whisk to make sure thgere are no lumps, bring it a boil. Pour it into a bowl, and allow it to cool and set. Cut into desired sized jellies.
- To a bowl, add the dragonfruit and quarter cup water. Simmer for a couple of minutes and smash the dragonfruit chunks. Add the agar agar and bring it to a boil. Pour it into a bowl and allow it cool to set. Cut itinto cubes of desired size.
- Add 3 to 4 cups water to a heavy bottomed sauce pot and bring it to a boil. Add the sago and cook for 12-14 minutes. Switch off the stove, close and allow it to cook in its own steam for another 10 minutes to turn glassy and transparent. Drain the water and set aside.
- To a bowl, add the coconut and dragonfruit jellies, cut dragonfruit chunks, sago, popping boba, and ice cubes. Then add the milk, eveaporated milk, and condensed milk.
- Mix all the ingredients.
- Transfer to serving bowls and serve chilled.
kushi says
Very interesting recipe with dragon fruit. Thanks for sharing.
magicalingrdnts says
Thanks Kushi!
Erik says
The color is so pretty! This really hit the spot.
magicalingrdnts says
Thanks, Erik!
Paula says
This was so tasty! I never know what to do with dragon fruit so this was a great recipe to find.
magicalingrdnts says
I am glad you found this recipe and liked it. Thanks, Paula!
Neha says
What an amazing recipe with sago! I love that pretty pink color too.
magicalingrdnts says
Yes, this is an attractive, easy to make and a vibrant dessert! Thanks Neha!
Marie-Pierre Breton says
I love dragon fruit! This sounds like the perfect drink!
magicalingrdnts says
It is! Thanks Marie!
Mayuri Patel says
This dragonfruit sago is not pretty but super tempting. What a delightful dessert for the hot season. Like how you've made jellies from dragonfruit and coconut milk. Saved this recipe to try out.
magicalingrdnts says
Thanks Mayuri! I can guarantee you'll love this dessert!
Seema Sriram says
Though I am nearly out of pink lovers in my house, I cant help but thing how much I would love this pink recipe. The two types of dragon fruit together makes it more interesting.
magicalingrdnts says
Thanks, Seema!
Neha (My Culinary Expressions) says
This dragon fruit sago dessert surely makes an interesting dessert. The dessert bowl looks so filling with sago, dragon fruit jellies and coconut jellies. Your post inspires me to venture out with dragon fruit recipes. As until now, I have only savored dragon fruit on its own.
magicalingrdnts says
Adding Dragonfruit imparts beautiful color to the food and you could try a few from my blog. I can guarantee that you will love those. Thanks Neha!