In Thailand, this is one of the favorite ways to cool off during a hot day. Also an impressive ending to a fiery Thai meal. Light and refreshing, with glistening 'rubies' swimming in sweetened coconut milk and crushed ice.

Serves 4.

Ingredients

220 g/7 oz canned water chestnuts
red food colouring
few drops jasmine or rose essence
185 g/6 oz/3/4 cup white sugar
185 ml/6 oz/3/4 cup water
4 tablespoons (approx.) tapioca flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
250 ml/8 fl oz/1 cup coconut milk ice

Directions

Cut canned water chestnuts into small dice. Put into a bowl and add just enough cold water to cover. Drop food colouring into the water, stirring, until there is a strong red colour. Add a few drops of jasmine or rose essence. Leave water chesnuts to absorb the colour for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, dissolve sugar and water in a saucepan to make a syrup and let cool.

When the water chestnuts have absorbed enough colour, drain in a sieve. On a sheet of paper spread the tapioca flour and roll the pieces of water chestnut in the flour until well coated. Bring a saucepan of water to the boil. Put the water chestnuts in a dry sieve and shake off excess flour. Drop into the boiling water and cook until the pieces rise to the surface. Lift out on a slotted spoon and drop immediately into a bowl of iced water. In each serving bowl or glass pour some of the syrup, then spoon in some water chestnuts. Gently pour in some of the coconut milk mixed with the salt, and last of all add a spoonful of crushed ice. Serve at once.

Note: If fresh water chestnuts are used, peel, dice and boil them for 10 minutes and drain before proceeding with recipe. A good precaution for anything that grows in water.