Shaved ice with sweet red beans and fruit

During the summer, Korean bakeries serve a refreshing treat called patbingsu. This delightful dessert is crafted using shaved ice combined with chunks of fruit, sweet red beans, a touch of milk, and sweetened condensed milk. The name “patbingsu” comes from “pat,” which means “red beans” (adzuki beans), and “bingsu,” which refers to “shaved ice” in Korean. While modern Korean bakeries compete with innovative bingsu creations each year, my favorite is the traditional style featuring red beans and injeolmi rice cakes. Today, I’m excited to share this classic recipe with you.

When I lived in the city of Gwangju, in the southwest corner of Korea, a popular bakery downtown was well known for its patbingsu. The shaved ice was like a mountain of snow, filled with delicious morsels like sweet red beans, colorful fruits, and chewy rice cakes. I can still picture my children’s big smiles when I suggested we go for patbingsu, served in one big portion with spoons. We usually shared 1 bowl of patbingsu together.

We were filled with so much excitement for patbingsu that we often got a “brain freeze,” a sensation that now always reminds me of summer. It was such a joyful brain freeze lol!

Canned sweet red beans are readily available in any Korean grocery store, making it incredibly convenient to create this delightful treat if you have an ice shaver. Nowadays, blenders have become more powerful and versatile, often equipped with functions to crush and shave ice cubes.This makes preparing patbingsu at home even simpler.

If you feel exhausted from the heat in the summer, make this. You’ll feel energetic again and your body temperature will cool down. Add your favorite toppings to your patbingsu and enjoy the recipe!

Ingredients

Serves 1 or 2

• 3 cups shaved ice (from about 2 cups water)
• 1 cup sweet red beans, canned or homemade (see the recipe below)
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 4 or 5 small strawberries (about ½ cup), cut into small pieces
• 1 small mango, deseeded, skinned and cubed
• 6 or 7 small bits of injeolmi rice cake (see the recipe below)
• 3 tablespoons cold sweetened condensed milk

For sweet red beans

Makes a little more than 2 cups

• 1 cup small dried red beans (Adzuki beans: pat in Korean)
• 4½ cups water
• 1 cup white or brown sugar (cane sugar or zero calorie swerve)
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For injeolmi rice cakes

• ¼ cup glutinous rice flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• a pinch of kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons roasted soybean powder

Directions

How to make sweet red beans

1. Pick out any broken or brownish beans and discard them. Put the good beans in a strainer. Rinse them under cold running water, then transfer them to a large, heavy saucepan.
2. Add 4½ cups water and cover. Place over medium-high heat and cook for 10 minutes until the water is boiling.
3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour 30 minutes, until the beans are tender but not mushy.
4. Remove from the heat and drain.
5. Return the beans to the pot and add the sugar, salt, and vanilla extract.
6. Stir with a wooden spoon for about 4 to 5 minutes over low heat, until the beans are drizzle-able.
7. Allow the beans to cool thoroughly. Transfer to an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

How to make injeolmi rice cake

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the rice flour, sugar, salt, and water. Mix the ingredients thoroughly with a spoon until it becomes smooth.
2. Cover the bowl with heat-resistant plastic wrap, making sure to leave a small gap for steam to escape. Microwave the mixture for 1 minute.
3. Carefully take the bowl out of the microwave and uncover it. Hold the bowl steady with a kitchen cloth to protect your hand from the heat, then use a small wooden spoon to vigorously stir the mixture until it becomes elastic.
4. Prepare a cutting board and sprinkle soybean powder on it. Transfer the hot rice cake onto the soybean powder. To prevent sticking, lightly wet your fingertips with cold water.
5. Now, flip the rice cake over with your hands, pressing and shaping it into a square shape. Use a kitchen knife to cut the square into small pieces.

How to put the patbingsu together!

1. Begin by refrigerating a 2- to 3-cup serving bowl until it becomes cold. This will help keep the patbingsu chilled while serving. Once the bowl is cold, place 2 cups of shaved ice in the bowl as the first layer.
2. Gently drizzle the whole milk over the sweet red beans.
3. Add ½ cup of sweet red beans over the shaved ice.
4. Add the mango and strawberry pieces (or fruits of your choice).
5. Take the remaining 1 cup of shaved ice and build it up on top of the fruits, creating a mountain-like appearance.
6. Add a ½ cup of sweet red beans over the shaved ice mountain.
7. Place the rice cakes on the top layer.
8. Drizzle the condensed milk over the entire patbingsu, adding a touch of sweetness and flavor.

Serve

1. Serve the patbingsu immediately with a spoon. Mix and eat the different layers together.

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