Kitchen Recipe Collection
Mango Pomelo Sago (Yang Zhi Gan Lu)
A highly popular modern Hong Kong dessert soup. A refreshing, vibrant yellow, chilled puree of sweet mangoes and creamy coconut milk, filled with chewy sago pearls and bursts of tart pomelo pulp.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- 3 large, very ripe mangoes
- 1/4 cup small sago pearls (tapioca pearls)
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1/4 cup simple syrup (or to taste)
- 1 cup pomelo segments (or grapefruit segments), separated into individual sacs
Equipment
- Blender
- Pot for boiling sago
Instructions
- 1
Boil Water
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the sago pearls.
- 2
Cook Sago
Boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so they don't stick. Turn off the heat, cover, and let them sit for 5 minutes until completely translucent.
- 3
Chill Sago
Drain the sago and rinse thoroughly under cold water to remove excess starch. Keep them in a bowl of cold water.
- 4
Prepare Mango
Peel the mangoes. Cut one mango into small, neat cubes for garnish. Set aside in the fridge.
- 5
Blend Mango Base
Place the flesh of the remaining two mangoes into a blender.
- 6
Add Liquids
Add the coconut milk, evaporated milk, and simple syrup to the blender.
- 7
Puree
Blend until completely smooth, silky, and bright yellow.
- 8
Chill the Base
Transfer the mango puree to a large bowl and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This dessert must be served ice cold.
- 9
Prepare Pomelo
Peel the pomelo, remove all the bitter white pith, and separate the flesh into tiny, individual juice sacs.
- 10
Assemble
Drain the sago and stir it into the chilled mango puree.
- 11
Portion
Ladle the mixture into serving bowls or glasses.
- 12
Garnish and Serve
Top generously with the reserved diced mango and the separated pomelo sacs. Serve immediately.
Cooking Tips
- The pomelo sacs are essential; they provide a slight bitterness and an acidic pop that perfectly balances the rich, sweet mango and coconut.
- Always add the pomelo right before serving. If you mix it into the liquid too early, the acid can cause the milk to curdle.
Variations
- Ice Cream Topping: For an extra decadent version, top with a scoop of mango or vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition Estimate
250 calories · 3g protein · 40g carbs · 12g fat · 4g fiber per serving
