Authentic Thai Recipe for Pumpkin and Coconut Custard

Authentic Thai recipe for Pumpkin and Coconut Custard

Pumpkin and Coconut Custard

สังขยาฟักทอง ( Sang Ka Ya Fak Tong )

Added on February 16, 2016

Currently rated:  
Rated 4 Stars from 3284 reader reviews

Yield: 10 servings
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cooking time: 50 Minutes
Ready in: 1 Hour

The pumpkin custard known as San Ka Ya is a popular Thai street food snack that can be purchased from vendors by the slice. When served whole and sliced at the table it makes a nice dessert for any type of meal. Watch as we show you how easy it is to make this interesting and very authentic Thai food for your next party, dinner, or to keep in the frig for a nice treat. For this demonstration we used a kabocha squash, also known as the Japanese pumpkin. It is very similar to the Buttercup squash, and has a firm green skin, a strong and delicious sweet flavor, and moist, fluffy texture.

Ingredient List:
What's in our Pumpkin and Coconut Custard.

For the Pumpkin Custard

For the Whipped Cream Topping

Basic Directions:
How we make our Pumpkin and Coconut Custard.

1) Cut a top whole in the pumpkin and remove all the seeds and pulp. Save the top to be replaced after cooking.

2) Prepare the custard by whisking egg, sugar, coconut milk, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla. Pour it into hollowed out pumpkin.

3) Cook on high heat in a vegetable steamer for at least an hour. Allow to cool completely.

4) Prepare whipped topping. Spoon into the top of the custard or serve it as a topping. Slice the whole pumpkin as you would a pie.

Jump to the detailed step-by-step method.
Our YouTube Channel features videos produced by Worawut and the team at Baan Worawut, our local Chiang Mai fast food restaurant. The recipes include some the most popular dishes we serve, family favorites from home, as well as a few more complicated Thai recipes that require hours to prepare.

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How to Make Sang Ka Ya Fak Tong

Detailed Step-by-step Method:

Print these instructions >

Step 1

Using a sharp knife, cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin, keeping the cutout top in one piece. Be sure to cut the whole big enough to get your hand inside.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 1

Step 2

Use your hand, and then a spoon to remove all the seeds and stringy membrane so that the pumpkin is smooth and clean inside.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 2

Step 3

If using the type of coconut sugar that comes in large pieces, you'll need to soften it up so it can blend in to the custard. I put it in a small bowl with a little water and microwave it for about a minute.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 3

Step 4

After heating, it will mix up into a nice syrup. If you are using granulated sugar you can skip this step.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 4

Step 5

Whisk the egg lightly, then whisk in the sugar until they are well blended.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 5

Step 6

Next add the cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir it up well, then add the coconut milk. Whisk lightly until everything is smooth and creamy.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 6

Step 7

Pour the custard into the hollowed out pumpkin.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 7

Step 8

Place the pumpkin in a large steamer. lay the top piece on the side so it cooks also. Cover tightly and steam for about 45 minutes or more.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 8

Step 9

After steaming, the custard will expand and get firm. You need to be sure that it has cooked long enough. You can check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. It will need to be at least 75° C or about 165° F to be fully cooked. You can also stick it with a toothpick to check that it is firm. This custard ended up taking about 1 hour to cook. The one thing you do not want to do is stop cooking while it's still too soft.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 9

Step 10

Remove it from the steamer and let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until very cold. After it cools the custard will contract, usually leaving a space at the top. I'll fill this with some whipped cream.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 10

Step 11

Whip the heavy cream until it's very thick and peaks form. Add the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. beat it on high until well mixed and firm again.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 11

Step 12

Spoon the cream into the open space and pack it in well.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 12

Step 13

Replace the top as a lid and push it into the cream tightly. If your custard doesn't have space for the cream, you can skip it for the more traditional way that is without cream, or you can serve it on the side as an optional topping. Return it to the refrigerator until time to serve so it stays very cold.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 13

Step 14

To serve, slice it like a piece of pie.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 14

Step 15

Cover the unused portion well with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated. It will last several days if kept very cold.

Recipe for making authentic Thai food - Pumpkin and Coconut Custard - Step 15

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