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Dragon Fruit Boba Pearls Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 87 reviews

This vibrant Dragon Fruit Boba Pearls recipe transforms fresh red dragon fruit into chewy, colorful tapioca pearls perfect for bubble teas and desserts. The recipe uses a simple combination of dragon fruit puree, sugar, and tapioca starch to create a naturally flavored and visually stunning treat. Cooked either on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot, these pearls can be enjoyed immediately or frozen for later use.

Ingredients

Scale

Dragon Fruit Mixture

  • 3.5 oz (100g) red dragon fruit cubes
  • 2 tbsp sugar

Dough

  • 1 cup tapioca starch
  • Additional tapioca starch for dusting

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dragon Fruit Puree: Blend the red dragon fruit cubes with sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and well combined, creating a vibrant purple puree.
  2. Heat the Puree and Combine with Starch: Pour the dragon fruit puree into a small pot and heat it until it reaches boiling. Turn off the heat, then add half of the tapioca starch and mix continuously for 6-7 seconds. Add the remaining starch and mix thoroughly to form a dough.
  3. Knead the Dough: While the dough is still warm but not hot, use a scraper or mixing tool to stir. Then knead it gently by hand until the dough becomes nearly smooth and pliable.
  4. Shape the Pearls: Divide the dough into four equal pieces and roll each piece into a long log. Pinch small portions from each log and roll them between your palms to form small round balls (boba pearls). Dust the pearls generously with additional tapioca starch to prevent sticking, then sift off any excess starch using a strainer.
  5. Cook the Pearls: You can either freeze the uncooked pearls for later or cook them immediately. To cook on the stovetop, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, then add the boba pearls. Cook over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes until they float to the surface. Turn off the heat, cover with a lid, and let them sit for an additional 10 minutes to finish cooking. For larger pearls, increase cooking time to 20 minutes and resting time to 20 minutes. Alternatively, use an Instant Pot by adding boba pearls and water, sealing the lid, and locking the vent. Set to manual high pressure for 5 minutes.
  6. Optional Soak and Sweeten: After cooking, optionally soak the pearls in iced water to enhance texture and then drain. Finally, toss the pearls in simple syrup or honey to sweeten before serving.

Notes

  • Freezing the shaped but uncooked pearls helps store them for future use.
  • Adjust cooking times for larger or smaller sized pearls as needed.
  • Use simple syrup or honey to add sweetness and prevent the pearls from sticking together after cooking.
  • Always dust boba pearls with tapioca starch to avoid them sticking while shaping and before cooking.
  • Cooked boba pearls are best consumed fresh but can be refrigerated for a day or two.

Keywords: Dragon fruit boba, tapioca pearls, bubble tea pearls, homemade boba, dragon fruit dessert

Find it online: https://dinewithlily.com/dragon-fruit-boba-pearls-recipe/