Imagine eating a delicious sweet bowl of cereal. You can’t stop yourself from eating a second or third bowl. The marshmallow-like bits are not only fresh and chewy but they’re completely healthy for you. The milk is sweet and warm and you can’t help but drink it down. What I was describing isn’t actually cereal but a delicious(and old) South Asian dessert.
I was still transitioning to eating Asian food. I had an Asian friend, I lived in an Asian house, but I didn’t eat Asian food. By Asian food, I don’t mean stir fried rice or kung-pow chicken. I mean the traditional, non-Americanized grease-free Asian food. Aside from papaya salad, chicken feet and sticky rice, the most traditional dish in Laos would be the dessert dish: Nam Wan. Imagine boiling tapioca balls(boba) until they turn clear. Mix said balls with various tropical fruits like: kiwi, pineapples or even strawberries. Also, some of the more “traditional” Nam Wan will contain some rather exotic fruits such as: lychee, jackfruit, dragon fruit(YUM) and coconut gelatin. Usually, someone will chop, slice and dice the fruits to make them easier to chew and swallow. Right now, you’re probably thinking about how healthy this dessert is, and you’re right! The most unique thing about Nam Wan is that it’s comprised mostly of fruit and dairy with a hint of sugar and salt. Authentic Nam Wan uses coconut milk to drown the fruit in a big bowl. The thing about coconut milk is that it has a high viscosity level. The thick gooey texture of the coconut milk may unnerve first time eaters of Nam Wan. Fortunately for us Americans, the Lao people have adapted their food for the American tongue. Instead of coconut milk, the people will use half and half milk. This substitute really does give off the impression of eating a bowl of cereal.
Ingredients:
1 cup of sliced strawberries
1 can of palm seeds or red bean
1 can of jackfruit or lychee
1 can of coconut jelly
1 pint of half and half milk
3 cups of simple syrup(sugar and water mix)
1 bag of boba(tapioca pearls)
Process:
I was still transitioning to eating Asian food. I had an Asian friend, I lived in an Asian house, but I didn’t eat Asian food. By Asian food, I don’t mean stir fried rice or kung-pow chicken. I mean the traditional, non-Americanized grease-free Asian food. Aside from papaya salad, chicken feet and sticky rice, the most traditional dish in Laos would be the dessert dish: Nam Wan. Imagine boiling tapioca balls(boba) until they turn clear. Mix said balls with various tropical fruits like: kiwi, pineapples or even strawberries. Also, some of the more “traditional” Nam Wan will contain some rather exotic fruits such as: lychee, jackfruit, dragon fruit(YUM) and coconut gelatin. Usually, someone will chop, slice and dice the fruits to make them easier to chew and swallow. Right now, you’re probably thinking about how healthy this dessert is, and you’re right! The most unique thing about Nam Wan is that it’s comprised mostly of fruit and dairy with a hint of sugar and salt. Authentic Nam Wan uses coconut milk to drown the fruit in a big bowl. The thing about coconut milk is that it has a high viscosity level. The thick gooey texture of the coconut milk may unnerve first time eaters of Nam Wan. Fortunately for us Americans, the Lao people have adapted their food for the American tongue. Instead of coconut milk, the people will use half and half milk. This substitute really does give off the impression of eating a bowl of cereal.
Ingredients:
1 cup of sliced strawberries
1 can of palm seeds or red bean
1 can of jackfruit or lychee
1 can of coconut jelly
1 pint of half and half milk
3 cups of simple syrup(sugar and water mix)
1 bag of boba(tapioca pearls)
Process:
- Start by boiling boba in hot water for 15-20 minutes
- While boba is boiling, quickly and carefully slice and dice your fruit and coconut gelatin into small pieces
- Scoop about half a can of palm seeds(or red bean) into a small bowl.
- Mix 2 cups of sugar with 3 cups of water and let it boil in a medium saucepan. (You don’t necessarily need syrup so feel free to skip this step)
- By this time, your boba should be done boiling. Drain the pot and pour the hot boba into a big bowl. Afterwards, pour the remaining ingredients on top of the boba.
- Sprinkle salt and sugar before pouring the half and half milk into the bowl.