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Forkin
DessertSnack

Chendol

A refreshing and sweet Southeast Asian dessert featuring pandan-flavored rice flour jelly, creamy coconut milk, and a rich palm sugar syrup. This vegan treat is perfect for cooling down on a warm day.

An original recipe by Forkin

Total time
2 hr 5 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
Medium
Chendol

Mise en place

Ingredients

chendol jelly

  • 0.5 cuprice flour
  • 2 tbsptapioca flour
  • 0.5 cuppandan juice, from 4-5 pandan leaves
  • 0.75 cupwater
  • 0.25 tsprock salt
  • 4 cupice water

gula melaka syrup

  • 1 cuppalm sugar, chopped
  • 0.5 cupwater
  • 1 pcspandan leaf, knotted

coconut milk

  • 2 cupcoconut milk, full-fat
  • 0.25 tsprock salt

serving

  • 3 cupshaved ice
  • 0.5 cupred beans, cooked, sweetened(optional)
  • 0.25 cupsweet corn, canned, drained(optional)

Equipment

chendol press or colander · saucepan · large bowl · whisk · serving bowls

The method

Step by step

  1. 1

    Combine the palm sugar, water, and pandan leaf in a small saucepan for the gula melaka syrup.

  2. 2

    Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the palm sugar is fully dissolved.

    About 5 min

  3. 3

    Remove the pandan leaf and set the syrup aside to cool completely.

  4. 4

    In a medium saucepan, whisk together the rice flour, tapioca flour, pandan juice, water, and rock salt for the chendol jelly.

    About 2 min

  5. 5

    Cook the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring continuously, until it thickens into a translucent, sticky paste.

    About 10 min

    Cook’s note: This may take 8-10 minutes. Do not stop stirring to prevent lumps.

  6. 6

    Prepare a large bowl of ice water for cooling the chendol.

    About 1 min

  7. 7

    Press the hot chendol paste through a chendol press or a colander with large holes directly into the ice water.

    About 5 min

    Cook’s note: Work quickly while the mixture is still warm and pliable.

  8. 8

    Let the chendol strands firm up in the ice water for at least 15 minutes.

    About 15 min

  9. 9

    Drain the chendol and refrigerate until ready to serve.

    About 30 min

  10. 10

    Combine the coconut milk and rock salt in a small saucepan.

    About 1 min

  11. 11

    Heat gently over low heat, stirring until the salt dissolves. Do not boil.

    About 3 min

  12. 12

    Remove from heat and let the coconut milk cool down.

  13. 13

    To assemble, spoon some shaved ice into serving bowls.

    About 1 min

  14. 14

    Add a generous portion of the drained chendol jelly, and optionally, red beans and sweet corn.

    About 1 min

  15. 15

    Drizzle generously with the cooled gula melaka syrup and pour over the salted coconut milk.

    About 1 min

  16. 16

    Serve immediately.

Keep it good

Storage

Store leftover chendol jelly, syrup, and coconut milk separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Reheating

Eaten cold; do not reheat.