I’m running so late for this month Delicious Vietnam! Blaming it on the weather, interstate trips or whatever. Life has been hectic around here…
Anyway, I managed to whip us a lovely and utterly simple dessert for the event: sweet corn pudding (chè bắp or chè ngô). Like most other Viet dishes, it relies on simple ingredients and quite minimal cooking. In this case, fresh corn kernels are must. Usually, sticky rice is added to bind the whole pudding together. I didn’t have any on hand, so tapioca pearls were used instead. This substitution is quite nice since it gives the pudding somewhat a lighter texture.
The pudding is best served warm with some coconut milk sauce and toasted sesame. A lovely sweet dessert to warm up the cold nights we still have recently in Melbourne.
(I think this kind of dessert can be found in all places in Asia. To be truly Vietnamese, or truly Hanoi style strictly speaking, an essence made from pomelo blossom (dầu hoa bưởi) should be used – Again, I didn’t have any so pandan leaves were used here 
)
This post is submitted to Delicious Vietnam #4, hosted this month by Bonniebella.
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
3 corn cobs
5-6 cups water
A pinch of salt
Around 100g sugar (to taste)
1-2 pandan leaves, knotted
1/4 cup tapioca pearls
Coconut sauce: 250ml coconut cream, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp potato or corn starch, 1 pinch of salt
Toasted sesame seeds, to serve
Method
Clean the corn cobs. Using a thin blade knife, cut the corn kernels from the cob.
Put all the corn kernels in a large sauce pan. Add in water (the water level should be 2 inches above the corn surface) and the pandan leaves. Bring to the boil, and simmer around 10-15 mins or until the corn kernels are just tender, but still retain the ‘biteness’. Remove any foam.
While the corn mixture is cooking, prepare the tapioca pearls. Put them in a small saucepan and cover them with water. Slowly bring the mixture to the boil, stirring constantly to prevent it to burn. Keep on stirring until most of the perls are opaque.
When the corn mixture is almost done, remove the pandan leaves and stir in the tapioca pearls. Bring the whole thing to a simmer, then, put in enough sugar to taste. Keep warm.
Now, prepare the coconut sauce by mixing all ingredients together, and bring to the boil with gentle heat. Stir until the mixture thickens.
To serve: laddle the warm pudding to a bowl, then add in enough (more or less to taste) coconut sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Enjoy!
The pudding is equally delicious served cold!
That is delicious!
Sweet corn is at its peak here right now! This looks so refreshing, rather than too heavy with cream. Would love a bowl this minute!
Yumm!
I love corn and coconut together. What a great treat
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Interesting dessert! I really like corn, so maybe this recipe would be something I should try too
Thanks for sharing!
Great post for the round up.
Beatiful photography as always and the corn pudding looks interesting (in a good way
), I have never eaten one before.
Well, I have a hard time finding fresh pandan leaves (are frozen any good?), never mind pomelo blossoms. : D An elegant sweet, Anh. Quite lovely photos, too.
So simple yet such delicious flavors!!
I can only imagine how delicious this should be….. actually now that I've got a recipe I'll try it for myself !!
lOVELY! You made a dessert. Thank you
I love how refreshing and simple this recipe sounds. I like how you used tapioca instead of sticky rice.
I have never thought of combining corn and coconut, but now that I think about it, I'm drooling. Thanks for sharing!
when I see this post it makes me wonder why we don't have more sweetcorn desserts here – they make so much sense – especially with coconut milk – sounds delicious
Hi Anh, this is hands down one of my favourite dessert. It's so simple to make but it just hits the spot. The natural sweetness of the corn down to the delicious creamy coconut cream. YUM
Wow, this looks so delicious. thanks for sharing
Delicious… that reminds me of thai dessert as well, anyway totally love the black tray in the photo… so niceeeeee
This sounds lovely, we do have a similar corn and sago sweet in Malaysia. I can imagine how fragrant it must be with the pomelo essence. I love learning more about Vietnamese cuisine through this series.
This looks delicious! I loved every single thing I ate in Vietnam
Will have to check out everything in this series!
Hi Anh, How are you? after long time here. I am blogging after long time. nice looking pudding!
looks awesome delicious and yet full of simplicity, just fabulouos!
The reason why I love Vietnamese food. We have also similar dish as this one. Yummmm
Yummy! I just had this Vietnamese dessert yesterday. The store added pandan paste to add an extra fragrant to this dessert.
Wow, this corn pudding with coconut milk looks so yummie…and easy to make…love it
I am thinking if I had this dessert before….hmmm…should be a "No" but it sounds so easy that I cannot believe I have not tried it. Sometimes, the simplest tastiest dish can only be found at home.
yumm!!
Anh, this looks really good. In Malaysia although we may use corn and coconut milk together in a dessert, our version is much thicker, congee like consistency. We also have corn pudding as well.
What a unique dessert- You certainly don't find dishes like this in many places around here. Sounds like an inspired combination of fresh, seasonal produce and a classic comfort food though!
I love sweet corn. This dessert is a must try for me.
This surely is my kind of dessert, love your photos.
I've only had corn pudding once, but it was divine. Thank you for the recipe! Looks like you've got an eye toward summer with the addition of corn into the blog! xoxoxo
I think I had something similar to this when I went to Hanoi in 2006. It tasted really nice!
This make a very nice & refreshing dessert. I love the crunch of the sweet corns.
Your last photo is so evocative and beautiful Anh!
I heart sweet corn! Especially those pearl ones! Love your gorgeous photos
Oh my gosh, I haven't eaten corn pudding in years! Looks great!
One of my favourite puddings… but then I don't think there are any that I dislike =D
OMG! I LOVE THIS STUFF! IT'S SOOO GOOD
This brings me back, way back… My mother would occasionally prepare this when I was a kid. I love your blog and your pictures, Anh!!! Thank you for sharing this.