Lotus seed longan sweet soup is a beloved delicacy, ideal for weekend enjoyment and boasting numerous health benefits. If you're unfamiliar with crafting this enticing dessert, dive into the following article now!
1. Step-by-step guide to making refreshing and nutritious lotus seed longan sweet soup.
Lotus seed longan sweet soup is a beloved delicacy, ideal for weekend enjoyment and boasting numerous health benefits. If you're unfamiliar with crafting this enticing dessert, dive into the following article now!
1. Ingredients for making lotus seed longan sweet soup
- 200 grams of fresh lotus seeds or 100 grams of dried lotus seeds.
- 1 kilogram of fresh longan fruits or 200 grams of dried longan.
- 500 grams of rock sugar (adjustable according to taste).
- 2 liters of filtered water.
- 3 vanilla pods.
2. Method for preparing lotus seed longan sweet soup
Step 1: Prepare lotus seeds and longan fruits
- For lotus seeds:
+ If using fresh lotus seeds, peel off the outer layers and remove the bitter core, then rinse thoroughly.
+ If using dried lotus seeds, soak them in hot water for about 3 hours beforehand to allow them to expand and return to their original state. Pre-soaking ensures the seeds remain tender, plump, and flavorful.
- For dried longan:
+ If using dried longan, soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes before cooking to allow them to expand.
+ If using fresh longan, this step is not necessary.
- You can also soak the lotus seeds and dried longan in cold water overnight, and by the next day when they've fully expanded, you can start cooking.
Step 2: Cooking lotus seed longan sweet soup: Cooking lotus seeds
- Place the prepared lotus seeds in a large pot of water, place it on the stove, and simmer over low heat to cook the lotus seeds evenly without breaking. Once they're cooked and expanded, carefully scoop them out with a spoon.
- After removing all the lotus seeds, add 0.5 kg of rock sugar to the lotus seed water and cook until dissolved (adding about 1 liter of water), if the water reduces, you can add more. Taste the sweetness of the lotus seed water to your liking.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, slowly add the cooked lotus seeds back in, simmer gently over low heat to allow the lotus seeds to absorb the sugar without breaking. Add 3 vanilla pods.
- When the lotus seeds are soft and sweet (let the sugar water simmer for about 5 minutes), turn off the heat. Proceed to scoop out the lotus seeds to drain.
Step 3: Separating the longan flesh
- If using dried longan, simply drain them after soaking.
- For fresh longan fruits, to continue making lotus seed longan sweet soup,
rinse the longan fruits, peel off the outer skin. Then using a small, sharp knife, carefully cut around the pit to remove the flesh, being careful not to crush or tear the flesh, as it will affect the appearance of the soup when cooked.
Step 4: Stuffing lotus seeds into longan flesh
- This step involves placing the round, fragrant lotus seeds inside the longan flesh. The longan will envelop the lotus seeds beautifully.
- Dried longan will also have hollow centers once they expand, so you can stuff the lotus seeds in a similar manner. Continue until all ingredients are used up.
Step 5: Completing lotus seed longan sweet soup
Once all the lotus seeds are stuffed into the longan flesh, the final step is to place all the longan-filled shells into the previously prepared sugar water pot, turn on the heat to simmer the soup once more, and the lotus seed longan sweet soup cooking process is complete.
Remove the soup from the heat, let it cool, and you can refrigerate it to chill. You can also add ice when serving if you prefer.
3. Perfect combinations with lotus seed longan sweet soup
To avoid monotony, besides the easy-to-make lotus seed longan sweet soup, you can try some equally enticing combinations right here!
- Lotus seed longan sweet soup with tapioca pearls: This combination does not affect the taste of the lotus seed soup.
+ You can make tapioca pearls from tapioca starch and glutinous rice flour, or for a quicker option, buy tapioca pearl packets and cook for about 30 minutes, then turn off the heat, let it sit for 30 minutes more, then scoop into a bowl of cold water to cool, then soak for another 15 minutes with sugar water, and it's done.
+ Sweet, fragrant lotus seeds, refreshing longan, and chewy tapioca pearls create an irresistible treat.
- Lotus seed longan coconut milk soup: Lotus seed longan soup has a refreshing and pure taste, not too creamy. So if you prefer a slightly creamy texture, you can add some coconut milk.
- Lotus seed longan chia seed mix: Simply soak chia seeds in warm water for about 10 minutes until they absorb water and expand, then mix them with lotus seed soup and enjoy.
4. Amazing health benefits of lotus seeds
With the abundant nutrients as listed above, lotus seeds have become a nutritious food for all family members. Lotus seeds have remarkable health benefits such as:
- Lotus seeds provide abundant energy
- Lotus seeds help fight aging, good for oral health
- Lotus seeds contribute to relieving headaches
- Supporting the health of the elderly and postpartum women
- Lotus seeds are an ideal snack for children, rich in calcium and increase appetite, good for children's digestion,...
With these amazing benefits, lotus seed longan soup is a nutritious dish you should consider for your family's menu!
5. Some notes on lotus seed longan soup
- Storing lotus seed soup:
Lotus seed longan soup can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days, but it's best to consume it on the same day.
If you accidentally make too much, you should scoop out the longan and lotus seeds into a separate container, and the soup into another container, cover tightly, and then store in the refrigerator's cool compartment.
- Notes when using lotus seed longan soup:
+ People with bloating, indigestion should not consume lotus seeds.
+ Those with heart disease should not use lotus seeds because the alkaloid content can cause strokes.
+ If using lotus seeds to treat insomnia, you should not discard the lotus seed hearts.
+ Eating fresh lotus seeds can cause poisoning, so thorough preparation is necessary before processing.
+ Lotus seeds are beneficial to health, however, consuming too many lotus seeds can cause irregular heart rhythms, menstrual disorders, and decreased libido.
With the step-by-step guide to making refreshing and nutritious lotus seed longan sweet soup above, we wish you successful implementation and enjoyable meals with your family.