There are various ways to prepare red bean or adzuki bean soup. While a traditional Chinese red bean soup recipe is made with a sweetener of your choice, many have tweaked it and experimented with other ingredients and flavors. Some add pandan leaves to the boiling beans for an earthy taste, and others add in ingredients of their choice in addition to that.
The time of one’s period can be extremely exhausting. Cooking from scratch, soaking and boiling the beans is a task in itself. You can alternatively also choose to swap out that entire process by trying recipes with red bean paste. Just combine water with your paste of choice - red beans in Malaysia come in the form of great pastes as well. And that’s it, your soup is ready.
Some of the best red bean soup recipes that are ideal for when one is on their period are below.
1. Traditional Chinese Red Bean Soup
- A basic red bean soup made from red beans, water, and rock sugar.
- You may also add some orange zest or tangerine peel for an added zing.
This simple version provides the key nutrients and sweetness that many find soothing. Chinese red bean soup benefits are immense, and this simple Chinese recipe is tried and tested to be the best. It’s something you’ll definitely come across at a Cantonese banquet as a kind of light yet rich dessert soup, and you’re certain to love it!
2. Red Bean and Ginger Soup
Another simple red bean soup recipe is with some ginger in it.
- Prepare your red bean soup.
- Add ginger to and cook it for a while.
Adding fresh ginger to your red bean soup can help alleviate menstrual cramps and reduce inflammation. Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and this soup is like a warm embrace, perfect to ease your pain.
3. Red Bean Soup With Sweet Potato
This variation combines soft, sweet potatoes with the nutty sweetness of red beans. This adds a comforting and indulgent aspect to the soup.
- Boil the potatoes separately.
- Add them to your simmering red bean soup.
4. Red Bean Soup With Tang Yuan
Tang Yuan or soft and sticky mochi balls are not just a delicacy, but a comfort food as well. They’re cute and an adorable addition to your red bean soup.
- A tang yuan red bean soup simply needs the tang yuan to be boiled and then the red bean soup is ladled over it.
- You can make your own tang yuan or opt for store bought ones with different fillings.
5. Mexican Red Bean Soup
This one is very different from the rest on the list. Mexican red bean soups are usually more savory than sweet. You’ll find that they’re the same as a red kidney bean soup recipe.
- This soup needs some sauteed peppers of your choice and a garnish of sour cream, avocado, and cheese.
