Chè Thái Recipe

By: Yen Vo

 
 
Madame Vo Che Thai Recipe

Photo: Andrew Bui

Madame Vo owner Yen Vo's favorite childhood memories revolve around making Vietnamese desserts with her mom. “She makes the best desserts," Vo says. "It’s not just in my opinion — you can ask everyone at her church.” One all-time favorite is this Chè Thái, a refreshing and whimsical shaved ice treat that riffs on a Thai treat called Tub Tim Krop.

Loaded with lychee, longan, toddy palm seeds, shaved jackfruit, and various jellies, it’s an easy recipe that can be adjusted to taste and personal preference. Loaded with lychee, longan, toddy palm seeds, and various jellies, Chè Thái is a simple, fun-to-make shaved ice treat.

Ingredients

1 20 oz can jackfruit (if you can’t find fresh jackfruit)

1 20 oz can lychee (if you can’t find fresh lychee)

1 20 oz can longan (if you can’t find fresh logan)

1 19 oz can ai-yu jelly or (you can make the jelly by using a pandan jelly mix) 

1 20 oz can toddy palm seeds

1 20 oz can coconut jelly (you can also use fresh coconut meat)

15-18 water chestnut peeled (you can use canned, but it won’t be as crunchy)

1 Cup Tapioca starch

1 Cup of sugar

1 Cup water 

Red Food Coloring

Half and Half 

Crushed Ice

 

Method

Cooking Water Chestnut:

Peel and cut water chestnuts into ¼ cubes and place in a bowl. Add a few drops of red food coloring and mix until color is distributed evenly. Slowly add in tapioca starch to make sure each cube is fully coated. Boil water and add the water chestnut in. Once they float to the top, scoop out and add to ice water. Keep them in the ice water for
8-10 mins then remove with a slotted spoon making sure all excess
water is drained. Set aside.

 

Making Simple Syrup: 

Add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 cup of sugar and stir until sugar has dissolved. Once the water chestnut has cooled off completely add simple syrup mixture and stir.

 

Prep:

Cut jackfruit, palm seeds, and coconut meat into strips. Cut pandan jelly into cubes. 

 

Assemble:

In a tall glass add 1/3 cup of jackfruit, lychee, longan, jelly, palm seed, and coconut meat or coconut jelly. You can add more or less of each ingredient depending on preference.  Pour in half and half and top with ice and enjoy.