Mung Bean Dessert (Che Dau Xanh)

This Vietnamese dessert (Che Dau Xanh) made of mung beans is the easiest dessert to make. Are you thinking…beans? for dessert? Yes, beans are a very common ingredient in Asian desserts and pastries. Often the beans are cooked, mashed and mixed with sugar and coconut milk to make a yummy filling for cakes and pastries. This recipe is as simple as it gets–boil the beans and then add sugar and coconut milk at the end. I enjoy this dessert year-round.  In the summertime, I add crushed ice to it and make a chilly refreshing treat. During the colder months, I serve it warm and it’s more of a soup. I also like drinking the liquid and often double the water so I have some extra. Green mung beans are touted to having cooling properties for the body. I’ve heard some people say it reduces high blood pressure so give it a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients

1/2 cup green mung beans
4 cups water
3 Tbsp sugar (add more if you like it sweeter)
2 Tbsp coconut cream powder or coconut milk

Directions

Wash and rinse mung beans several times.

Place beans in a pot with water and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and simmer with lid on pot for 45 minutes until beans are tender.
Add sugar and coconut milk and stir.  Simmer for another 5 minutes.

Serve hot or cold.

Yields: 2-3 servings