Red Beans With Longan Sweet Dessert

I prefer this type of red beans to the usual darker coloured red beans.  This type is more 'fleshy' after boiling and the beans are soft without skin breaking.  It can be boiled with dried longan or even gingko nuts, the soup taste good.

Here is a version with only small portion of ingredients enough for 2-3 persons.  Many people usually will prefer to buy ready cooked red bean soup because they think it takes a long time to cook and in big quantity.  This is not so.  By cooking it in your own kitchen, you can 'control' the sweetness of the soup.

Ingredients

[2-3 bowls]

100 gm red beans [see picture]

3-4 pieces screwpine leaves [pandan leaves]

1 litres water

2-3 tbsp rock sugar
a handful of dried longan

1. Pick the rotten beans and discard them.  Wash the beans under running water several times.  You can soak beans with some water and leave it in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.  Throw away the water before boiling [some believe this way, it will reduce flatulence effect of beans].
   
2. Put all ingredients except rock sugar and longan in a pot.  Bring it to a rolling boil for about 10 minutes.  Then lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour or until beans are soft.
3. Add rock sugar to taste.  Off fire and serve hot or warm.

Note: 

I store leftover dessert in the refrigerator, eating them cold or reheat if I want it hot.

Useful information from The Soup Queen on 'Why eat red beans?'

I am not sure whether the above beans which I used to cook this dessert is considered the actual red beans but here are some information you may not know about red beans to share.

• known for their 'strengthening' qualities and 'yang' energy.
• good for blood building, full of iron especially beneficial for women.
• support kidney and bladder function.
• good source of magnesium, potassium, zinc copper, manganese and B vitamins.  High potassium and low sodium can help reduce blood pressure and acts as a natural diuretic.
• good protein substitute and lots of soluble fibre that helps to eliminate toxins and cholesterol.