Skip to main content

Coconut Chia-Tapioca Pudding

Coconut ChiaTapioca Pudding recipe
Alex Lau

Health food stores often sell already shelled fresh coconut meat. If you can’t find it, buy a whole coconut instead. Look for one that’s heavy for its size and filled with liquid (give it a shake to be sure).

Recipe information

  • Yield

    6 servings

Ingredients

½ cup large pearl tapioca (not instant or quick-cooking)
1 tablespoon white chia seeds
2 13.5-ounce cans unsweetened coconut milk
½ teaspoon kosher salt
⅓ cup light agave nectar, plus more for serving
1 cup chopped fresh coconut meat
½ cup chopped fresh pineapple, plus more for serving
Sliced mango and toasted unsweetened shredded coconut (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine tapioca and 2 cups water in a medium bowl. Combine chia seeds and ½ cup coconut milk in a small bowl. Cover both bowls with plastic wrap and chill overnight. Pour remaining coconut milk in open can into an airtight container or another small bowl; cover and chill until ready to use.

    Step 2

    Drain tapioca pearls. Combine reserved coconut milk and coconut milk from remaining can in a medium saucepan; add salt and ⅓ cup agave. Bring to a boil over medium, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring constantly, until reduced by one-quarter, about 5 minutes. Add tapioca and cook, stirring constantly, until tapioca is translucent and tender but still chewy in the center, about 5 minutes. Set saucepan in a bowl of ice water and let cool, stirring occasionally.

    Step 3

    Stir soaked chia seeds, coconut meat, and ½ cup pineapple into pudding and scrape into a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing directly onto surface, and chill until thickened and cold, at least 2 hours.

    Step 4

    To serve, stir pudding well and divide among bowls. Top with mango, shredded coconut, and more pineapple and drizzle with some agave.

    Step 5

    Do Ahead: Pudding can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.

Read More
As energizing as an energy bar, with a much simpler ingredient list.
This summery cake from Bake Club just happens to be gluten-free.
It comes together in a blender and just happens to be dairy-free.
With ultra-tender cake and a few-ingredient frosting, this is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for all ages.
Nutty and deeply chocolatey, these brownies just so happen to be gluten-free.
The high-impact flavors traditionally used in the marinade for Peruvian chicken—soy sauce, cumin, and paprika—are applied to grilled tofu with resounding success.
With cottage cheese blended right in—yes—this smoothie will keep you full until lunch.
Brown-butter banana cake with banana cream and crunchy vanilla wafers for good measure.