Sweet and Creamy Sweet Pumpkin Sikhye
Sweet and Creamy Sweet Pumpkin Sikhye
Make a Healthy Sweet Pumpkin Sikhye with Mini Pumpkin or Sweet Pumpkin, Enjoy it Cold!
Homemade sweet pumpkin sikhye boasts a deeper, richer flavor than regular sikhye, enhanced by a subtle aroma of sweet pumpkin. This time, try making a visually appealing and delicious sweet pumpkin sikhye. It’s a refreshing drink with a sweet aftertaste that everyone, young and old, will love. Enjoy a special homemade sikhye using mini pumpkins or sweet pumpkins.
Sikhye Ingredients- 800g malted barley
- 5 liters water
- 2 bowls cooked rice (preferably slightly firm)
- Sugar (to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 800g of malted barley. Add 5 liters of warm water to the malted barley and gently knead it with your hands until it’s well combined. Let this mixture soak for about 2 hours. If the weather is warm, you can place it in a warm spot or use the ‘keep warm’ function on your rice cooker. If you’re concerned about it spoiling, soaking it in the refrigerator is also a good option.
Step 2
Strain the soaked malted barley through a fine sieve to extract the clear malted barley water. It’s important to filter out any remaining husks or debris from the barley to ensure a clean liquid.
Step 3
Let the strained clear malted barley water sit undisturbed for about 3 hours. This allows the sediment to settle at the bottom, leaving a clear liquid on top.
Step 4
After the settling time, carefully pour off the clear liquid from the top, leaving behind the white sediment at the bottom. This sediment, known as ‘anggeum,’ can make the sikhye cloudy, so discard it.
Step 5
While the malted barley water is settling, prepare the rice for the sikhye. Cook 2 bowls of white rice with slightly less water than usual to achieve a firm, ‘goseul-goseul’ texture. This prevents the rice grains from becoming mushy and helps maintain a good texture in the sikhye.
Step 6
Combine the firm cooked rice with the clear malted barley water in a rice cooker. Mix well, then use the ‘keep warm’ setting on your rice cooker for about 4 hours. This process allows the rice grains to ferment and develop the characteristic sweetness of sikhye.
Step 7
After 4 hours, open the rice cooker. You should see the rice grains floating on top of the liquid. This indicates that the fermentation process has been successful and the sikhye is ready to be boiled.
Step 8
Now, transfer the fermented mixture to a pot and bring it to a rolling boil. You have two options: you can boil it with the rice grains intact, or you can strain out the rice grains, rinse them under cold water, and set them aside. Then, boil only the liquid, let it cool, and add the reserved rice grains back in. Boiling with the grains is simpler, while straining and re-adding them creates a visually appealing sikhye with floating grains.
Step 9
If you choose to boil the sikhye with the rice grains, add about half a cup of sugar once it starts boiling. You can adjust the sweetness to your preference after it’s fully cooked. It’s better to start with less sugar and add more later if needed.
Step 10
While the sikhye is boiling, prepare your sweet pumpkin or mini pumpkin. Wash it thoroughly, place it in a microwave-safe bag, and microwave for about 15 minutes until tender. Once cooked, cut the pumpkin in half, remove the seeds, and scoop out the soft flesh. Discard the skin and seeds.
Step 11
As the sikhye boils, foam may form on the surface. Skim off this foam with a spoon, as it can affect the clarity and taste of the final product. This step ensures a clean and pure sikhye.
Step 12
Pour half of the boiled sikhye into a separate container and let it cool completely. To the remaining half of the sikhye in the pot, add the prepared sweet pumpkin flesh by passing it through a sieve. This process removes any fibrous bits or skin from the pumpkin, ensuring a smooth and refined sweet pumpkin sikhye.
Step 13
Simmer the sikhye with the pumpkin for a short while longer, then let it cool completely. Your delicious sweet pumpkin sikhye is now ready! The combination of pumpkin’s natural sweetness and the refreshing sikhye creates a unique and delightful flavor.
Step 14
This recipe is great because it allows you to enjoy two types of drinks at once: the plain sikhye you set aside and the newly made sweet pumpkin sikhye. You can customize the sweetness of your sweet pumpkin sikhye by adjusting the sugar to your liking. Plain sikhye is also a wonderfully refreshing traditional beverage in its own right. Enjoy both flavors!
