Easy Red Bean Soup with Coconut Milk 椰汁紅豆沙 / 紅豆湯 is a twist on the traditional Chinese red bean soup. Enjoy this delicious creamy and hearty Chinese dessert made in the Instant Pot pressure cooker. This Traditional Chinese Medicine sweet soup is nourishing, immune boosting and helps removes dampness! Enjoy it hot or cold. No soaking required!
Jump to:
- Tong Sui 糖水
- Let's Get Fancy
- Other Red Bean Desserts
- Where Can You Buy Red Beans?
- Health Benefits of Chinese Herbs
- How To Cook Tapioca Pearls Sago
- Ingredients You Will Need To Make Red Bean Soup Recipe
- Instant Pot Red Beans Soup Recipe
- Red Beans Soup Stovetop Method
- Easy Red Bean Soup With Coconut Milk 椰汁紅豆沙
Tong Sui 糖水
Red Bean Soup a classic Cantonese dessert soup. Tong Sui, translated as "sugar water', is commonly served at the end of meals in most Chinese restaurants and at Chinese banquet. Sweet red bean soup is one of those dishes that encompasses nostalgia and childhood memories. There are many variations of this red bean soup: some people like to add green mung beans, lotus seeds, lily bulbs, black glutinous rice, etc. But the basic red bean soup base is consistently made with red beans, rock sugar and Chinese mandarin peel.
Let's Get Fancy
If you want to get fancy, you can also add tofu pudding, sago or black sesame soup. All these variations are typical of iconic dessert soup shops in Hong Kong.
Other Red Bean Desserts
- Red Bean Soup
- Red Bean Paste Tang Yuan
- Red Bean Ice
- Read Bean Paste Rice Cake
- Red bean pudding
Next time, give these new recipes a try and make during Chinese New Year instead of just hong dou tang. It is my favorite way enjoy red beans as one of the main ingredient. Plus you can reap the benefits of good health! You may even want to try making Chinese red bean cake recipe.
Where Can You Buy Red Beans?
You can find small red beans at most Asian grocery stores or Chinese herbal stores. You can even buy them online here.
Keep in mind that these organic red beans or red mung beans are not the same as red kidney beans! They are very different!
Health Benefits of Chinese Herbs
紅豆 Red Beans / Adzuki - Antioxidant and improves cardiovascular health. Protein dense and low in fat. High levels of potassium, fibre, vitamin Bs, iron and zinc. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, red beans removes dampness, promotes calmness, restores the mind and regulates spleen and kidney functions. 红豆清心养神、健脾益肾功效.
蓮子 Lotus Seed / Semen Nelumbinis Nuciferae – Dried lotus seeds are sweet and promote spleen, kidney and heart. Those suffering from insomnia will find comfort in its ‘de-heating’ properties. Lotus seeds also reduce hemorrhaging.
蓮子去熱，蓮子心性寒。 蓮子調理脾胃，促進消化有幫助，治療失眠等功效
百合 Lily Bulbs / Lilium lancifolium - Lily bulbs' nature is cold and helps lower heat, relieve coughs, dry throats and other respiratory conditions like chronic bronchitis, asthma, etc. Its properties treat restlessness and irritability and promote restful sleep.
百合解毒、理脾健胃、利湿消积、宁心安神、促进血液循环等功效。
陳皮 Dried Chinese Mandarin Peel - Aged tangerine peel is soothing and normalizes your meridians. It helps relieves cold and reduces phlegm, congestions and stagnation of Qi. It improves digestion, reduces dampness and promotes spleen functions. Choose dried Chinese mandarin peels that are well aged.
温经通络、散寒化痰、 理气健脾，燥湿化痰，治咳嗽。對於一些咳嗽痰多、噁心、腹脹或者是食慾不振的患者俱有很好的作用。
椰汁 Coconut Milk - Coconut milk is nutrient rich and invigorates the spleen and kidney. It is diuretic and reduces inflammation. In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, coconut milk tonify yin and expels cold. Coconut milk is sweet and neutral temperature. Aids weight loss.
椰奶性平味甘, 有補脾益腎，利尿消腫，祛風止癢。滋润皮肤，美容养颜。
冰糖 Rock Sugar - The soothing taste of rock sugar is the perfect additional for sweet dessert soup. This natural sweetner invigorates middle meridian, improves Qi, moisturizes the lungs, quenches thirst and relieves coughs and phlegm. In additional, rock sugar clears heat and nourishes yin.
冰糖性平, 補中益氣、和胃潤肺、止咳化痰、祛煩消渴、清熱降濁、養陰生津、止汗解毒等功能。治療中氣不足、肺熱咳嗽、咯痰帶血、陰虛久咳、口燥咽乾、咽喉腫痛、風火牙痛等病症。
How To Cook Tapioca Pearls Sago
Tapioca sago pearls is a fantastic ingredient to add to your favourite sweet dessert, bubble tea, and shaved ice desserts in asian cuisine.
Dried white tapioca pearls require longer cook time and enough water. Tapioca balls or boba are tiny pea sized, small translucent spheres made with tapioca starch which comes from the cassava root.
Add tapioca pearls straight from the package into boiling water in a large pot. Cooking sago pearls require a large amount of water. As the cassava pearls expand, they may not cook thoroughly if you do not have enough water.
Use the ratio of six cups of water for one cup of tapioca pearls.
After adding the tapioca pearls, bring the water to a boil again. Reduce to low-medium heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir frequently to avoid sticking.
After 15 minutes, turn off the heat and keep the pot covered. Let rest for another 10-15 minutes. The pearls are fully cooked when you no longer is white centers, only translucent spheres.
Drain and rinse tapioca pearls under cold water.
Add cooked tapioca pears in sugar water to prevent them from sticking together.
Ingredients You Will Need To Make Red Bean Soup Recipe
Lotus Seed
Lily Bulbs
Coconut Milk
Tapioca Pearls (Sago) - optional
Instant Pot Red Beans Soup Recipe
Making sweet mung bean soups is super easy and can be done without soaking! It takes only a few ingredients that you can store in the pantry. Using an Instant Pot pressure cooker reduces the cook time by half! Pressure cooking cooks a pot of beans without soaking dried adzuki beans in a fraction of the time. In the past, so much time is used prepping and soaking the beans overnight! Compared to using an electric pressure cooker, even using a slow cooker took too long!
For me, the perfect way to cook red bean soup is to pressure cook on high pressure for 45 minutes and let it naturally release pressure. Natural release will take approximately 20 minutes. If you are in a hurry, you can also opt of quick release.
Afterwards, I like to emulsify my red bean soup by bringing the soup to a boil using the "Soup Mode" - I find this brings out the nutty flavours of legumes better! Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender to emulsify the sweet red beans sweet soup.
Enjoy either cold or hot.
Add full fat coconut milk.
Add cooked tapioca pearls if desired.
After the cooking process, you may wish to add coconut milk and also tapioca pearls.
Red Beans Soup Stovetop Method
If you do not have an Instant Pot , a regular pressure cooker, or you prefer the stovetop method, you will need to pre-soak the red beans, lotus seeds, and lily bulbs. Soaking the red beans will make your sweet soup become extra "sandy / grainy". A good red bean soup will have a nice grainy texture!
Boil your ingredients plus 10 cups of water on medium heat for 2 hours then boil for 30 mins on high heat.
For stovetop method, I like using cast iron pots like Le Creuset or Staub to maintain balanced circulated heat and reduce moisture loss.
Enjoy either cold or hot.
Add full fat coconut milk.
Add cooked tapioca pearls if desired.
Pro Tip: Use a spoon and scrape the white part off from the Chinese mandarin peel and remove the stem. Doing this eliminates traces of bitterness.
If you love Instant Pot Asian Desserts, this Sweet Green Bean Soup is super refreshing!
Did you make this Creamy Coconut Milk Red Bean Soup? I’d love you make this recipe! Leave a comment below and tag me on Instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS
PrintEasy Red Bean Soup With Coconut Milk 椰汁紅豆沙
Easy Red Bean Soup with Coconut Milk 椰汁紅豆沙 / 紅豆湯 is a twist on the traditional Chinese red bean soup. Enjoy this delicious creamy and hearty Chinese dessert made in the Instant Pot pressure cooker. This Traditional Chinese Medicine sweet soup is nourishing, immune boosting and helps removes dampness! Enjoy it hot or cold. No soaking required!
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 65
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 persons 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 cups organic red beans 紅豆
- ¼ cup dried lotus seeds 乾白蓮子 (1两 or 37.5g)
- ¼ cup dried lily bulbs 乾白合 (1两 or 37.5g)
- 50g rock sugar 冰糖 (適量)
- 2g dried Chinese mandarin peel 果皮(1 塊)
- dash of kosher salt (適量)
- 6 cups cold water
- 1 cup of coconut water
- 1 cup cooked tapioca sago pearls, optional
Instructions
- Wash dry ingredients in the cold and soak for 20 minutes to remove any traces of impurities. (see notes)
- Use a spoon and scrape the white part off from the Chinese mandarin peel and remove the stem. Doing this eliminates traces of bitterness.
Pressure Cook Red Bean Soup:
- Add all the ingredients in the Instant Pot - I used THIS one.
- Add 6 cups of cold water in the Instant Pot.
- Set Pressure Cooker at High Pressure for 45 mins, natural release.
- Set Instant Pot to "Soup Mode" and bring the red bean soup to a boil for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Emulsify to desired viscosity. (see notes)
- Taste and add more rock sugar or pure cane sugar if desired near the end.
- Serve and enjoy hot or cold.
- Add coconut milk to the hot or cold red bean soup.
- Add in cooked tapioca sago if desired
Notes
- Wash and rinse the Chinese herbs. I recommend soaking the herbs in water for at least 20 mins to remove any sulphur used during the sulphur fumigation process (replacing traditional sun-drying for its pesticidal and anti-bacterial properties.) Just in case.
- If your soup becomes too thick, add in boiled hot water and continue cooking to thin it out.
- Red bean soup thickens more after chilled in the refrigerator.
- Enjoy this sweet dessert, either hot or cold.
- Stove Top Method use 10 cups of water and boil for 2 hours (see post for more info)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pot
- Calories: 266
- Sugar: 12.7 g
- Sodium: 497 mg
- Fat: 12.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 33.1 g
- Fiber: 4.9 g
- Protein: 7.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: 蓮子百合紅豆沙, red bean soup, red bean dessert, sweet soup, 糖水, instant pot recipes, instant pot red bean soup recipe, instant pot desserts, chinese desserts, chinese recipes, vegan chinese food, chinese cuisine, vegan chinese recipes, 粤菜系, 家常菜, 香甜可口, 清心养神, 健脾益肾功效, 蓮子,百合,紅豆沙,粵菜, coconut milk, 椰汁
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Kristina says
Delicious recipe- the coconut milk is a welcome addition.
★★★★★
Nancy says
Wasn't the coconut milk so fragrant and smooth?
May says
I may need to spend a day for shopping for this delicous-looking soup.. I live in an area where Asian ingredients are a little difficult to find, but I'll try to make it. Wish me luck!
★★★★★
Nancy says
These ingredients should be super easy to find! good luck!
Christina says
Adzuki beans are so delicious, I make a red bean paste bun with them but never thought about a soup, it's delicious!
★★★★★
Nancy says
ohhh red bean paste buns sounds delicious! I want some too!
Crystal says
I absolutely love comforting desserts like this! Your recipe is easy to follow! Thanks!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Thanks Crystal! Enjoy this easy and refreshing dessert!
Emily says
I'm going to have to do some shopping for this one but that always makes me excited, anything I make of yours is always good. I'm definitely making this in the instant pot.
★★★★★
Nancy says
Thanks so much Emily! I'm so grateful for your on going support! Enjoy this tasty and nourishing dessert!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
This beautiful soup tastes so rich and delicious!! Looking forward to having this again.
★★★★★
Nancy says
Did you enjoy the red bean soup with or without coconut milk?
tina says
Thanks for a delicious treat! Absolutely love this red bean soup!
★★★★★
Nancy says
she's a classic!
Stacey says
I love how creamy the coconut milk makes the red bean soup, and the Instant Pot directions make this so simple.
★★★★★
Nancy says
Yes!!! we love using the instant pot to make this simple soup. it saves so much time!
jennifer says
So delicious and easy, thank you for the clear and exact directions for a newbie to this style cooking.
★★★★★
Nancy says
enjoy it!! you can wow your guests now!
Megan says
Hi Nancy, can you tell me the role of the lotus seeds and what they are like in the soup? I have never used them before. I so appreciate your description about the lily bulbs and look forward to ordering and trying them for the first time. Can't wait to make this lovely soup! Thank you.
★★★★★
Nancy says
Hi Megan - Dried lotus seeds are sweet and promote spleen, kidney and heart. Those suffering from insomnia will find comfort in its ‘de-heating’ properties. Lotus seeds also reduce hemorrhaging. It adds a nice subtle sweetness to the soup!
Shelby says
The coconut milk makes this so creamy! I love how comforting the flavor was too!
★★★★★
Janessa says
I had never made this before but felt confident with your detailed post! Thank you for including directions for stovetop and instant pot. I will definitely be making this again.
★★★★★
Melanie says
Thank you for an absolutely lovely recipe! Love your pro tip to remove the white membrane from the mandarin peel - great note!
★★★★★
Cindy says
You're right! These beans are very different and not at all like kidney. Such a delicious soup!
★★★★★
Michelle says
These are such new ingredients to me but it was totally worth he hunt to find them!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Not hard to find at all. They are available in most asian grocers and Asian sections in your local super market
Savannah says
This soup is delicious! It's the perfect comfort dinner!
★★★★★
Nancy says
it's the best after dinner dessert!
Natalie says
I love red bean soup. My grandmother used to make it all the time. Can`t wait to try this one out, thanks!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Enjoy!! homemade is always the best!
Lucas says
Incredible red bean soup. I think the coconut milk adds a perfect layer of subtle flavour to this soup!
★★★★★
Nancy says
OH yes! adding coconut milk instant upgrades it!
Ashley says
Amazing! I never thought of adding red bean into soup. Will try this out.
★★★★★
Nancy says
It's a Chinese classic!
Terri says
I love when I can get my vegetable count (yes, legumes like red beans count as veggies) in with my dessert. Delicious!
★★★★★
Amy says
I love red bean soup but had never tried with coconut milk before. It was so good! Don't think I can have it any other way now.
★★★★★
Vanessa says
I loved all the details on the benefits of this soup and I especially love that it can be made easily in the Instant Pot!
★★★★★
Marinela says
This red bean soup looks so tasty, I must try it asap. Love comforting food so much!
★★★★★
Bernice says
It's probably no surprise that I haven't had this soup but I have tried red beans in various dessert forms. I love how you explain all the ingredients and include instructions for making the tapioca pearls.
★★★★★
Nancy says
Thanks Bernice - i'm so happy to hear that it was helpful! enjoy this immune boosting delicious dessert!
Asha says
Love the immune boosting benefits that come in such a tasty soup! The coconut milk makes it dreamy too. Perfect for this time of year when a lot of people are catching colds 🙂
★★★★★
Nancy says
Enjoy this creamy dessert!! it's really lovely!
Stine Mari says
This soup is both nourishing and delicious and is definitely a perfect healthy comfort food!
★★★★★
Katie says
Love this soup! Loaded with flavor and tastes amazing!
★★★★★
Natalie says
Looks delicious. Can't wait to try this recipe. Saving it right now.
★★★★★
Alexandra says
What delicious flavours! Love the flavours.
★★★★★
Jerika says
This looks good, I can't wait to taste it. Thanks!:)
★★★★★
Choclette says
Goodness, this is a new one on me. Love that it has healing properties. Can't wait to try it.
★★★★★
Freya says
Oh my, this was so good, it’s going to be a new favourite!
★★★★★
Jean says
One of the best way to enjoy red beans, is by making this dessert.
★★★★★
Rob says
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to make this.
★★★★★
Anaiah says
Loving this easy dessert! I'll have to try it with the tapioca.
★★★★★
Andy says
The best soup! so so good!
★★★★★
Jan says
thoroughly enjoy this dessert
★★★★★
Daniela Weiner says
Easy recipe with detailed instructions. This Easy Red Bean Soup With Coconut Milk was a big hit
★★★★★
Michelle says
This was SO GOOD! The ingredients were a little hard to find for me but it was worth it, I love exploring new-to-me dishes!
★★★★★
Jacqui says
This soup is so delicious! It’s such an easy to follow recipe that turns out so satisfying.
★★★★★
Shilpa says
Great recipe. Will give it a try soon!
★★★★★
Sam says
I love the coconut milk in this recipe. So rich and delicious!
★★★★★
Jeannie says
both hot and cold are good, its such an easy sweet treat to enjoy.
★★★★★
Katie says
Perfect creamy soup! I love the coconut milk too!
★★★★★
Andrea says
such a delicious soup! perfect to cozy up to!
★★★★★
Chantry says
Awesome and delicious recipe! I love reading about the different health benefits of the Chinese herbs. I will have to start using lotus seeds to help with my insomnia.
★★★★★
Emily says
I love red beans and had never tried them this way. This sweet soup was delicious and creamy!
★★★★★