This Kerala tender coconut pudding is one from my childhood. These often eggless puddings called moss pudding are quite popular in Kerala and use either gelatin or agar agar (for a vegetarian version) and come in different flavours and varieties. Being the land of coconuts, a tender coconut pudding is high on the list of popular Kerala pudding recipes.
My sister is quite an expert at making this pudding and makes it regularly for us during holidays in Kottayam. My brother will source the tender coconuts with the intent of making her prepare this tender coconut pudding and getting my mom to make his favourite tender coconut dosa.
I made the pudding back in Singapore and resorted to the best tender coconuts I could find in Little India. They coconut flesh wasn’t as silky or young as we are used to back in Kerala but it worked well to make a slightly textured pudding rather than a smooth one you can see in my sister’s original recipe.
Other pudding recipes you may enjoy:
Trifle pudding recipe
Eggless condensed milk pudding
Vanilla panna cotta recipe
Eggless bread pudding recipe
Kerala Tender Coconut Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tin condensed milk 400gm
- 5 tsp sugar
- 10 grams china grass agar agar
- 2 tins milk measure using the condensed milk tin
- 1 tin tender coconut water
- 3/4 cup tender coconut flesh
- I used water and flesh from 2 coconuts and had some of both left over
- A few glazed cherries for garnish optional
Instructions
- Heat the tender coconut water in a pan until just hot (do not boil!) and add the china grass to it.
- Mix together - milk, condensed milk, and sugar
- Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and set aside
- Give the coconut pieces a quick spin in your mixer or blender. Since my coconut was a bit tougher than I would have liked, I blended it coarsely
- Add to the china grass mixture and mix thoroughly
- Mix together with the milk mixture and stir well
- Pour into a large tray or individual serving cups
- Chill overnight or at least for 6 hours before serving
- Garnish with cherries, if using
Notes
If the China grass is not fully dissolved, it will cause the pudding to not be very thick or set.
If there are strands of China grass in the pudding, it's totally fine. They are tasteless and don't change the flavour of the pudding
Add more sugar if you want a sweeter pudding. The quantity above gives a mildly sweet pudding
Step by Step Instructions to Prepare Kerala Tender Coconut Pudding
1. Use china grass or agar agar for setting the pudding. I used the powder version which dissolves much quicker than the strands you get to buyย 2. Heat the tender coconut water in a pan until just hot (do not boil!) and add the china grass to it. 3. In a separate pan, mix together milk, condensed milk, and sugar4. Bring to a boil, stirring gently and remove from heat. Set aside5.ย Give the coconut pieces a quick spin in your mixer or blender. Since my coconut was a bit tougher than I would have liked, I blended it coarsely ย 6. Add to the china grassย mixture and mix thoroughly ย 7. Pour this into the mix mixture and stir well to combineย 8. Pour into a tray or individual serving glasses. Chill overnight or at least for 6 hours before serving
Recipe Notes:
- If your coconut is really tender, it will be almost translucent and slippery. In this case, there’s no need to blend it, you can add directly into the hot china grass mix and it will dissolve on its own
- If the China grass is not fully dissolved, it will cause the pudding to not be very thick or set.
- If there are strands of China grass in the pudding, it’s totally fine. They are tasteless and don’t change the flavour of the pudding
- Add more sugar if you want a sweeter pudding. The quantity above gives a mildly sweet pudding
For Kerala tender coconut pudding recipe in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, etc please use the Google translate button in the sidebar.
Anna
When Should I mix the china grass coconut mixture to milk mixture? after or before cooling the milk mixture?
nags
You can do it before cooling it
Navina
I tried this recipe today. But on boiling the condensed milk and milk together, the condensed milk was getting burnt under. Do you have an idea what may have gone wrong?
nags
you have to mix the two very well before heating. also keep the heat very low
Asma
Made this today turned out very good. Thanks????
nags
thank you!
Rachel
Hi Nags,Just a suggestion:- Fry grated coconut (1 cup), chopped cashew nuts (1/2 cup) and 2-3 spoons of sugar in a pan till it gets a caramel flavour. Best topping for this pudding
Beks
Nags I am attempting with coconut cream! Wish me luck!
nags
how did it turn out??
Sowmya
I am loving this Nags. The glazed cherry is adding a lot of value.