Kitchen Recipe Collection
Sweet Taro Soup (Yu Tou Tang)
A thick, hearty, earthy sweet soup. Chunks of starchy taro root are simmered until they begin to dissolve, thickening a sweet coconut milk broth into a creamy, purple-flecked porridge.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- 400g taro root (the large Asian variety), peeled and cut into cubes
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 cup rock sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
- Optional: 1/4 cup small sago pearls
Equipment
- Large pot
- Gloves (for peeling taro)
Instructions
- 1
Prep Taro
Wear gloves to peel the taro, as the raw skin can cause severe itching. Cut the flesh into 1-inch cubes.
- 2
Boil Water
Bring the 4 cups of water to a boil in a large pot.
- 3
Cook Taro
Add the taro cubes. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- 4
Check Texture
The taro should be incredibly fork-tender, and the edges of the cubes should be dissolving into the water, thickening the soup.
- 5
Thicken
Use a ladle or spoon to lightly smash about a quarter of the taro cubes against the side of the pot to thicken the broth even further.
- 6
Add Sugar
Add the rock sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
- 7
Add Sago (Optional)
If you pre-cooked sago pearls, stir them in now.
- 8
Add Coconut Milk
Turn the heat to the lowest setting. Stir in the coconut milk.
- 9
Warm Through
Let it heat gently for 2 minutes. Do not let it boil vigorously once the coconut milk is added.
- 10
Serve
Serve warm. It should be thick, creamy, earthy, and aromatic.
Cooking Tips
- Make sure you buy the large Chinese taro (often with purple flecks inside) rather than the small hairy eddoes, as the large ones break down into a better, starchier texture.
- Rock sugar provides a clean sweetness that allows the delicate, nutty flavor of the taro to shine.
Variations
- Taro Paste (Orh Nee): A Teochew banquet dessert where the taro is steamed, mashed into a smooth paste with lard and sugar, and served thick.
Nutrition Estimate
250 calories · 2g protein · 45g carbs · 8g fat · 5g fiber per serving
