Chinese Red Bean Drink Food

HOMEMADE RED BEAN PASTE (HONG DOU SHA, 红豆沙)

Steps:

• Soak adzuki beans in water overnight. Drain then rinse well.
• Put the beans into a small pot. Pour in water. Bring it to a boil then leave to simmer for 60-90 mins until they become soft and easy to crush (check the water level halfway through. Top up if necessary to avoid burning).
• You may use a stove-top pressure cooker or an instant pot to speed up the process. Cook for 25 mins. Then leave to cool naturally.
• Drain the cooked beans then put into a blender or food processor. Add white sugar, dark brown sugar and butter. Blend on high speed into a fine paste. You may need to add a little water to make blending easier. However, only add as little as necessary.
• Transfer the puree into a pan. Cook over medium-high heat while stirring and flipping constantly to avoid burning. Once the paste becomes dark and holds in shape, transfer out to cool (See note 3 for the consistency).
• Remove the remaining water from the cooking pot. Add white sugar, dark brown sugar and butter to the beans. Use the flat bottom of a jar (or a potato masher if available) to crush the beans.
• Turn the heat back on. Heat up the paste to reduce its moisture until it reaches the desired consistency (see note 3). Stir constantly during this process to avoid burning.
• Red bean paste can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for two months. Defrost in the fridge before using.

CHINESE RED BEAN DRINK

Steps:

• Place 1/3 cup beans, 1 cup water, 1 cup sweetened condensed milk, and 4 ice cubes in blender, and blend until ice is crushed.