Paradox Blog

Sweet mung bean soup, growing up it was a must in our refrigerator at summer time. The simple green mung beans simmered with sugar then chilled was the best to cool and refresh after school, when we were all sweaty from riding home in the tightly crammed commuter bus. Mung beans are said to have an antidotal effect on heat strokes, swellings, dehydration, gas, and frayed nerves. It is simple to make (see below).

Soup made with red adzuki beans also tastes good chilled. Red adzuki beans are "warm" in nature and are said to be good for the female bodies especially if cooked with dried red jujube fruits. Though for the therapeutic effect it is better to consume the soup warm, it tastes just as well chilled.

Mung Bean Soup

1/2 cup of dry mung beans
8 cups of water
1/2 cup of sugar; add more if you like it sweeter

Bring water, mung beans and sugar to boil in a big pot.  Turn to low heat and simmer for one hour or until mung beans soften. Chilled before serving.

Mung Bean Soup Variation

1/2 cup dry mung beans
1/4-cup oatmeal or barleys
8 cups of water
1/2 cup of sugar; add more if you like it sweeter

Bring water, mung bean and barleys to boil in a big pot.  Turn to low heat and simmer for one hour or until mung beans soften.  If oatmeal is used instead of barleys, add it after mung beans have been simmered for 40 minutes or so for oatmeal takes shorter time to cook.  Chilled before serving.

Red Bean Soup

1/2 cup dry adzuki beans
8 cups of water
1/2 cup sugar; add more if you like it sweeter

Soak adzuki beans in water overnight. Bring water, beans and sugar to boil. Turn to low heat and simmer for at least two hours or until beans are soft. Chilled before serving or served warm.

Soup for the Female Body

1/4 cup dry adzuki beans
1/4 cup red kidney beans
1/4 cup dried jujube fruits ("red dates")
1/4 cup dried longan ("dragon eye" fruits)
8 cups of water
1/2-cup brown sugar

Soak adzuki beans and red kidney beans overnight. Wash and soak jujube fruits and longan for half an hour. Bring all ingredients together to biol. Turn to low heat and simmer for at least two hours or until beans are soft. Better served warm but can be chilled.