Patbingsu (Shaved Ice with Sweet Red Beans)

Method13 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Choose ready-made sweetened beans OR this optional homemade batch. For homemade, discard damaged beans and rinse 1 lb dried adzuki beans. Add 4 cups water, bring to a boil uncovered over medium-high, reduce to medium and boil 5 minutes. Skip this bean batch when using ready-made topping.

   Initial bean boil 5 minutes · 5 minUses 1 lb dried adzuki beans (about 2 cups) for optional homemade batch · Water as needed to rinse beans · 4 cups water for initial bean boil, discarded

   
2. 2

   Step 2: Drain the beans.

   Uses Initially boiled beans, discard water

   
3. 3

   Step 3: Return the beans to the pot with 8 cups of fresh water. Bring it to a boil. Cover, and simmer over medium low heat for about 1 hour, until the beans are nicely soft. Gently stir occasionally to make sure the beans are not sticking at the bottom. Add more water if needed.

   Simmer beans about 1 hour until tender · 60 minUses Drained beans · 8 cups fresh water for bean simmer · Extra water as needed during bean simmer and optional cold thinning

   
4. 4

   Step 4: Gently stir in the salt (1/2 teaspoon), sugar (1/3 cup) and honey (1/3 cup). Continue to simmer, uncovered this time, for about 10 minutes, gently stirring occasionally. Add more water if necessary. The beans should be liquidy. Most of the liquid will be soaked up by the beans even after being cooked.

   Simmer sweetened beans 10 minutes · 10 minUses Tender simmered beans · 1/2 teaspoon salt · 1/3 cup sugar for homemade bean batch, adjust to taste · 1/3 cup honey for homemade bean batch · Extra water as needed during bean simmer and optional cold thinning

   
5. 5

   Step 5: Cool the cooked bean batch promptly in a container, then refrigerate or freeze. Use only 2–3 Tbsp chilled beans for the single bingsu bowl; reserve the substantial remainder for other servings. Thin the portion with cold water if desired.

   Uses Sweetened cooked bean batch · Extra water as needed during bean simmer and optional cold thinning

6. 6

   Step 6: Choose ready-made rice-cake pieces OR this optional homemade batch. For homemade, whisk 1 cup glutinous rice flour with its separate 2 Tbsp sugar and 1/4 tsp salt. Skip the rice-cake batch when using ready-made pieces.

   Uses 1 cup glutinous rice flour for optional homemade rice cakes · 2 tablespoons sugar · 1/4 teaspoon salt

   
7. 7

   Step 7: Add water (3/4 cup) and mix well again.

   Uses Dry rice-cake mixture · 3/4 cup water

   
8. 8

   Step 8: Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe cover and microwave 2 minutes. Carefully open away from escaping steam, turn and mix the dough, then microwave 1 more minute. Check that it is entirely translucent; microwave another 30 seconds if needed.

   Uses Hydrated rice-cake dough

   
9. 9

   Step 9: Remove from the microwave and let it sit for 5 minutes. Knead well with a wooden spoon for 2 to 3 minutes for a chewier rice cake.

   Rest rice cake 5 minutes · 5 minUses Microwaved translucent rice cake

   
10. 10

    Step 10: You can wet your hand and the cutting board, and turn the rice cake out on a wet cutting board. OR: Dust the cutting board with a tablespoon of cornstarch or roasted soybean powder. Flatten it with your hands into a rectangle.

    Uses Rested kneaded rice cake · Water as needed to wet hands, board and knife for rice cakes · Optional 1 tbsp selected dusting powder for board

    
11. 11

    Step 11: Cut the homemade cake into 1/2–3/4-inch strips, wet the knife with separate handling water and cut into 3/4-inch cubes. If desired, dust cut surfaces with up to the remaining 1 Tbsp selected dusting powder. Cool before topping. Use a few pieces for the single bowl; freeze leftover rice cakes and reserve any unused dusting powder.

    Uses Flattened rice cake · Water as needed to wet hands, board and knife for rice cakes · Up to remaining 1 tbsp selected powder for cut surfaces

    
12. 12

    Step 12: Once ready-made or homemade components are cold, optionally chill the serving bowl in the freezer 10 minutes. Shave enough ice or frozen milk for 1 bowl using an ice shaver, blender or food processor.

    Uses Ice or frozen milk for 1 bowl shaved ice

    
13. 13

    Step 13: For the single bowl, add 2–3 Tbsp of EITHER ready-made sweetened beans OR the chilled homemade beans. Drizzle 1–2 Tbsp condensed milk, reserving any unused portion of its 2 Tbsp inventory. Add a few EITHER ready-made OR cooled homemade rice-cake pieces and desired optional toppings. Reserve the remaining homemade beans/rice cakes for other servings.

    Uses One bowl shaved ice · 2–3 tbsp ready-made sweetened adzuki beans, OR homemade topping · 2–3 tbsp chilled homemade beans, instead of ready-made topping · 2 tablespoons condensed milk · A few ready-made sweet rice cake pieces, OR homemade topping · A few cooled homemade rice-cake pieces, instead of ready-made topping · Optional fruit, nuts, green-tea ice cream, cookies, misugaru or green-tea powder, as desired