Lotus Seeds, Longan And Persimmon Sweet Soup

Today is Chinese New Year Eve and I am sure most of the young kids are very excited about the "Ang Bao(s)" that they are going to collect over the long weekend holiday. And for the adults, especially all the "Mums'" no doubts most of you will be busying in the kitchen preparing all the yummy food for reunion dinner.

Ladies from the younger generation perhaps you can also contribute some easy Chinese New Year "Auspicious" sweet soup as after meal dessert to pamper the elderly for preparing such as great reunion feast and as well share the sweet and harmony atmosphere through the sweetness of the dessert.

This is the most common Chinese New Year sweet soup that is being favourite by old and young generation. You can manipulate with the ingredients according to your preference but these are the usual ingredients used.

Preparation Time:15 Minutes Cooking Time:25 minutes

60g Dried Lotus Seeds(??), soak till soften

60g Fresh Gingko Nut(??)

80g Dried Longan(???)

1 1/2 Pieces of Brown Sugar(???)

2 Small Pieces of Dried Persimmon(??), sliced

4 Sterculia Seeds (???)

2 Litres of Water

1 Bundle of Pandan Leaves

1. Soak the Sterculia Seeds into hot water until fully burst out before removing the outer shell and seed. Rinse and drained well then set aside.

2. Soak Dried Lotus seeds in hot water for about 5 minutes till soften, rinse and remove any green sprouts from each seed and set aside.

3. Rinse the pre-packed fresh Gingko Nuts and season it with 1 teaspoon castor sugar.

4. Bring 2 Litres of water to boil, add in lotus seeds and dried longan, cook on medium hat for about 10 minutes, add in marinated gingko nuts and pandan leaves and cook for another 10 minutes before adding brown sugar to taste.

5. When done, add in sliced persimmon and prepared peng-da-hai then give them a quick stir before turning off the heat.

6. Dish up on bowl and serve either hot or cold.

Sterculia Seeds (Pend-da-hai "???") is brown and wrinkled in appearance but sweet and cold in nature. These seeds were traditionally used to soothe a sore throat and cough, but in addition it also helps clear the intestine and assist proper bowel function. From the photo above it shows the "bursting" effect of the Sterculia seeds after being soaked in hot water for about 5 minutes.

With this Chinese New Year sweet soup, I wish everyone had a Sweet And Harmonymoment with your loved one just like this sweet soup and their auspicious meaning of the ingredients. Stay healthy always and I hope you will find some inspiration through those Chinese New Year dishes or dessert that I have shared this year. Thanks.

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