Mung Bean Sweet Potato Dessert 绿豆番薯糖水

5

Mung Bean Sweet Potato Dessert is a comforting Chinese tong sui made with soft mung beans, tender sweet potatoes, sago pearls and fragrant pandan leaves. Lightly sweetened with coconut palm sugar and finished with coconut milk, this nourishing dessert soup can be enjoyed warm or chilled.

Watch How To Make Mung Bean Sweet Potato Dessert – Recipe Video

Mung Bean Sweet Potato Tong Sui is a comforting Chinese dessert soup enjoyed in many Asian households. This humble dessert combines soft, creamy mung beans with naturally sweet and tender sweet potatoes, gently simmered with coconut palm sugar and fragrant pandan leaves. The result is a light yet satisfying dessert with a smooth, creamy texture and soft bites of sweet potato in every spoonful.

Beyond its comforting taste, this traditional sweet soup is also valued for its nourishing qualities. Mung beans are often believed to help cool the body and aid digestion, while sweet potatoes add natural sweetness, fibre and nutrients. Whether served warm on a rainy day or chilled on a hot afternoon, this timeless dessert remains a favourite for its simplicity and comforting flavours.

Why You’ll Love Mung Bean Sweet Potato Dessert

This dessert is loved for its simple, comforting flavours and nourishing ingredients.

• Lightly sweetened and not overly rich
  The sweetness comes mainly from coconut palm sugar, giving it a gentle sweetness that doesn’t feel heavy.
• Soft and satisfying texture
  The mung beans cook down until soft and creamy, while the sweet potatoes add tender bites that make each spoonful more enjoyable.
• Fragrant and comforting
  Pandan leaves add a subtle aroma, while coconut milk gives the dessert a rich yet balanced finish.
• Enjoy it warm or chilled
  Serve it warm on a rainy day for a cosy treat, or chilled on hot days for something refreshing.
• Feels light yet nourishing
  Mung beans are often valued for their cooling properties and are easy to digest, making this dessert feel wholesome and comforting.

It’s a dessert that proves simple ingredients can create something truly delicious, which is why it remains a timeless favourite in many Asian households.

What You’ll Learn in This Recipe

• How to cook mung beans until soft and fluffy
• The right timing to add sweet potatoes
• How to cook sago properly so it turns translucent
• When to add coconut milk for the best texture
• Tips to balance sweetness and consistency

What Are Mung Beans and Why They’re Used in Chinese Desserts

Mung beans are small green legumes commonly used in Asian cooking. They have a mild, slightly nutty flavour and become soft and creamy when cooked, making them perfect for desserts like tong sui (Chinese sweet soup).

They are often used in sweet soups, pastries and even bean sprouts when germinated. Many people also enjoy mung beans because they are light, easy to digest and traditionally believed to have cooling properties, especially in warm weather.

Why Sweet Potatoes Work So Well in This Dessert

Sweet potatoes add natural sweetness, soft texture and extra heartiness to this dessert. When cooked, they become tender and creamy while still holding their shape, creating a delicious contrast with the soft mung beans.

Orange, yellow or purple sweet potatoes can be used, though orange sweet potatoes are most commonly used for this dessert due to their natural sweetness and vibrant colour.

Ingredients for Making Mung Bean Sweet Potato Dessert

Main Ingredients:

• Mung Beans
• Sweet Potatoes
• Small Sago (Sago Pearls)
• Coconut Palm Sugar
• Salt
• Thick Coconut Milk
• Water
• Pandan Leaves

Overview: How to Make Mung Bean Sweet Potato Dessert

Part 1: Prepare Ingredients

• Soak mung beans for at least 4 hours
• Peel and cube sweet potatoes
• Tie pandan leaves into knots
• Cook sago until semi-translucent

Part 2: Cooking Mung Bean Sweet Potato Dessert

• Boil water with pandan leaves
• Add mung beans and simmer until soft
• Add sweet potatoes and cook until tender
• Stir in coconut palm sugar and salt
• Add sago and coconut milk
• Let sago finish cooking until fully translucent

How To Serve Mung Bean Sweet Potato Dessert

This comforting dessert can be served warm, at room temperature or chilled.

Serve it warm on rainy days for a cosy treat, or chill it in the fridge for a refreshing dessert on hot days. Make sure each bowl has a good balance of soft mung beans, tender sweet potatoes and sago.

Practical Tips for Perfect Mung Bean Sweet Potato Dessert

Getting this dessert right is all about texture, timing and balance.

• Soak mung beans properly
  Soak for at least 4 hours or overnight so they cook faster and soften evenly. For silky texture, cook longer until beans partially break down.
• Cook mung beans until soft before adding coconut palm sugar
  Adding sugar too early can slow down the softening process.
• Cut sweet potatoes evenly
  Cut into medium-sized cubes (about 2-4cm) so they cook evenly without falling apart. If cut too small, the sweet potatoes can disintegrate and if too big, it will be hard inside. 
• Add sweet potatoes later, after mung beans are cooked till soft
  This prevents them from turning mushy while waiting for the mung beans to soften.
• Cook sago separately first
  This prevents excess starch from making the dessert cloudy.
• Add coconut milk at the end
  Once it comes to a gentle boil, turn off the heat immediately to prevent splitting.
• Adjust thickness to your preference
  Add more water for a lighter soup or simmer longer for a thicker consistency.

Some Recipes You May Like

• Red Bean Black Glutinous Rice Dessert Recipe 红豆黑糯米糖水食谱 (Tong Sui)
• Bubur Gandum (Sweet Wheat Porridge) 麦粥糖水
• Steamed Pumpkin Huat Kuih 蒸金瓜发糕
• Gingko Barley Beancurd Sweet Soup 洋薏米腐竹甜品
• Homemade Soy Milk 豆浆

Frequently Asked Questions