To cook black beans at home and achieve a soft, delicious porridge-like consistency without spending too much time in the kitchen, remember these useful tips:
Prepare the Ingredients
The most important ingredient is, of course, black beans.
For the sweetener, it is recommended to use granulated sugar (sugar cane or brown sugar) or rock sugar for a cooler taste. If you want to add a floral fragrance, you can use jasmine or grapefruit blossoms.
Coconut milk and shredded coconut are optional, depending on your preference.
When selecting black beans, look for beans with a deep black color, a green inner part, and a shiny shell, free from any signs of worms or insects. Remove any flat or deformed beans, and also discard any beans that float when soaked in water.
Pre-cooking Preparation
Rinse the black beans and soak them for about 8 hours or overnight. Soaking the beans not only saves cooking time but is also healthier. It helps to release phytic acid, a compound that inhibits seed germination and interferes with nutrient absorption in humans. By soaking and then cooking the beans, you reduce the bean’s astringency and improve their taste while ensuring better nutrient absorption.
After soaking, rinse the beans again and let them air dry. Then, put them in a pan and roast them lightly. Roasting serves two purposes: it balances the cooling properties of the beans, preventing stomach aches, and it also enhances the aroma, giving your black bean dessert a unique fragrance that plain boiling cannot achieve. However, be careful not to over-roast the beans, as they may become too dry and emit a burnt smell. A light roast is enough to bring out the flavor and ensure the beans become soft without disintegrating during cooking.
Cooking the Beans
Place the roasted beans in a pot and cook them using either a rice cooker or a gas/induction stove, depending on your preference and equipment availability. The most common methods are using a rice cooker or a pressure cooker. Simply put the roasted beans in the rice cooker, boil for about 5 minutes, and then let them simmer for about half an hour until the beans are soft.
To ensure the beans absorb the sweetness of the sugar, follow this tip: when the beans are soft, drain the water and put the beans back on the stove with a little water and a pinch of salt. This step helps the beans absorb the sugar and salt, resulting in a more intense and well-rounded sweetness. The salt also enhances the flavor of the beans, making the dessert more savory. Be careful not to burn the sugar, as it will affect the taste and aroma.
Serving
After mixing the beans with sugar and salt, add water to the pot and bring it to a boil. Your black bean dessert is now ready to be served! You can enjoy it warm or let it cool down, depending on your preference.
For an extra special touch, some people add a few slices of ginger to give it a unique flavor. Alternatively, you can infuse the dessert with the fragrance of jasmine by soaking the flowers in the sugar syrup and then adding it to the black bean dessert. This will give your dessert a subtle and elegant floral aroma.
If you prefer a thicker consistency, mix a little sweet potato starch with water and add it to the pot while the dessert is still boiling.
When serving, scoop the beans into a cup, add water, coconut milk, shredded coconut, and ice, if desired. You can also add tapioca pearls for a fun texture.
While black bean dessert has numerous health benefits, it is important to note that excessive sugar consumption may lead to an imbalance of heat in the body, according to traditional beliefs.
Some vendors use baking soda to accelerate the cooking process and soften the beans faster. However, when preparing this dish at home, it is advisable to avoid using baking soda, especially if you are unsure about the quality and purity of the product.
black bean soup quickly, fragrant and delicious’>Add an extra ingredient to the black bean soup quickly, fragrant and delicious
Don’t dump the black pot right into the cold water: Take this extra step to brew tea quickly, without wasting time.
With the following tips, you will have a delicious and fragrant black bean dessert, cooked to perfection, that you can never get enough of.