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Bánh Xu Xê – Bánh Phu Thê, a Vietnamese tapioca and mung bean cake wrapped in banana leaf.
Chef Nada

Bánh Xu Xê – Bánh Phu Thê: A Traditional Vietnamese Tapioca and Mung Bean Cake

Bánh Xu Xê – Bánh Phu Thê is a traditional Vietnamese wedding cake made with a chewy tapioca exterior and a sweet, creamy mung bean filling. This delicacy symbolizes love and unity in Vietnamese culture.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 cakes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Calories: 150
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 🟢 **For the Mung Bean Filling:**
  • - ½ cup peeled mung beans (split)

  • - ⅓ cup sugar

  • - ¼ teaspoon salt

  • - 2 tablespoons coconut milk

  • - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 🟢 **For the Tapioca Dough:**
  • - ½ cup tapioca starch

  • - ¼ cup rice flour
  • - ½ cup water
  • - ⅓ cup sugar
  • - ¼ teaspoon salt
  • - 1 teaspoon pandan extract
  • 🟢 **Additional Ingredients:**
  • - ¼ cup shredded coconut (optional)
  • -1 tablespoon roasted sesame seeds
  • - Banana leaves or plastic wrap for wrapping

Method
 

  1. 🟢 **Prepare the Mung Bean Filling:**
  2. - Soak mung beans in water for **2 hours** (or overnight).
  3. - Steam for **20 minutes**, then mash into a smooth paste.
  4. - In a pan, cook mashed mung beans with sugar, salt, and coconut milk until thick.
  5. - Stir in vegetable oil, then let cool and roll into **1-inch balls**.
  6. 🟢 **Make the Tapioca Dough:**
  7. - In a saucepan, mix tapioca starch, rice flour, sugar, salt, and water.
  8. - Cook over **low heat**, stirring until a thick, sticky dough forms.
  9. - Add pandan extract and mix well. Let cool slightly.
  10. 🟢 **Assemble the Cakes:**
  11. - Grease hands, flatten a portion of tapioca dough, and wrap around a mung bean ball.
  12. - Roll gently to seal.
  13. 🟢 **Wrap and Steam:**
  14. - Place each cake on a banana leaf or greased plastic wrap.
  15. - Steam for **10–15 minutes** until the tapioca turns translucent.
  16. 🟢 **Serve and Enjoy:**
  17. - Let cool slightly before serving.
  18. - Sprinkle with shredded coconut and sesame seeds for extra flavor.

Notes

✔️ Best enjoyed fresh or stored in an airtight container for up to **3 days**.
✔️ Steam before serving if refrigerated.
✔️ Freezes well for **up to 1 month** (thaw and reheat before eating).