Kitchen Recipe Collection
Red Bean Soup (Hong Dou Tang)
A deeply comforting, traditional dessert soup. Sweet, earthy adzuki beans simmered slowly with rock sugar and dried tangerine peel until they melt into a rich, velvety texture.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 90 min
- Total
- 100 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 6 servings
- 1 cup dried adzuki beans (red beans)
- 6 cups water
- 1/2 cup rock sugar (or brown sugar, adjust to taste)
- 1 piece dried tangerine peel (Chenpi)
- Optional: 1/4 cup small sago pearls or mini glutinous rice balls
Equipment
- Large pot or slow cooker
Instructions
- 1
Soak Beans
Rinse the red beans. For faster cooking, soak them in cold water for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- 2
Soak Peel
Soak the dried tangerine peel in warm water for 15 minutes until softened. Gently scrape off the white pith on the inside with a knife (which can be bitter).
- 3
Boil
Place the drained beans, the tangerine peel, and the 6 cups of fresh water into a large pot.
- 4
Simmer
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot.
- 5
Slow Cook
Simmer gently for 1.5 to 2 hours. Check occasionally and add more water if it becomes too thick.
- 6
Check Texture
The soup is ready when the beans have completely burst open and melted into the water, creating a sandy, velvety texture.
- 7
Add Sugar
Only add the rock sugar at the very end. Stir until completely dissolved.
- 8
Cook Add-ins (Optional)
If using sago or mini rice balls, cook them separately in boiling water, then drain.
- 9
Combine
Add the cooked sago or rice balls to the red bean soup.
- 10
Remove Peel
Remove the piece of tangerine peel before serving.
- 11
Serve Hot or Cold
Serve steaming hot in winter for comfort, or chill it in the fridge and serve cold in summer.
- 12
Enjoy
Enjoy the earthy, subtly sweet, and fragrant flavors.
Cooking Tips
- Never add sugar at the beginning! Sugar hardens the beans and prevents them from breaking down properly during cooking.
- Chenpi (sun-dried tangerine peel) is a prized ingredient in Chinese medicine and cooking. It adds a subtle, fragrant citrus note that cuts through the heaviness of the beans.
Variations
- Lotus Seed Red Bean Soup: Add dried lotus seeds and lily bulbs during the simmering process for extra texture and health benefits.
Nutrition Estimate
180 calories · 7g protein · 38g carbs · 0g fat · 8g fiber per serving
