Dongji Red Bean Porridge (Patjuk)
Dongji Red Bean Porridge (Patjuk)
Easy Dongji Patjuk Recipe using a Pressure Cooker: How to Boil Red Beans and Make Glutinous Rice Balls
This year’s Dongji (Winter Solstice) falls on December 21st. Make delicious Dongji Patjuk at home with this easy recipe!
Ingredients- 2 cups dried red beans
- 300g glutinous rice flour (for rice balls)
- 1/2 cup regular rice (optional, for porridge consistency)
- Plenty of water (for boiling beans and cooking porridge)
- Pinch of salt (to taste)
- Sugar (to taste, served separately)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by soaking the red beans! Rinse 2 cups of dried red beans thoroughly under running water. Then, soak them in plenty of water overnight (for at least 8 hours). Soaking helps the beans cook evenly and become tender.
Step 2
Save time and effort by boiling the red beans in a pressure cooker. Transfer the soaked red beans to a pot, add water, and bring to a boil for a minute. Discard this first water; this helps remove any bitterness from the beans. Add about 1.5 times the amount of fresh water (approximately 3 times the volume of the beans) to the pressure cooker. Once the pressure cooker’s weight starts to vigorously whistle, turn off the heat immediately. Let the steam release naturally without forcing it. This method ensures the beans are cooked until very soft without breaking apart.
Step 3
Drain the cooked red beans using a sieve, separating the beans from the cooking water. Set the red bean water aside; you’ll use it later. Check if the beans are tender enough to be easily mashed.
Step 4
To create a smooth red bean paste, add 1 liter of fresh water to the cooked red beans and blend them in a mixer until very smooth. If you prefer a bit of texture, you can blend for a shorter time. A smooth consistency makes for a better porridge texture.
Step 5
Now, let’s make the chewy glutinous rice balls (saealssim)! Take 300g of glutinous rice flour and gradually add warm water, kneading until you form a smooth dough. The dough should not be too sticky. Roll small, round portions of the dough into bite-sized balls. Making them small will help them float nicely when cooked.
Step 6
To achieve a creamy texture and adjust the porridge’s thickness, we’ll use regular rice. Soak 1/2 cup of regular rice for about 30 minutes, then blend it with 1 cup of water until smooth. You can omit this step if regular rice is unavailable.
Step 7
It’s time to combine everything and cook the delicious red bean porridge! Pour the reserved red bean water, the blended regular rice mixture, and the blended red beans (mixed with 1 liter of water earlier) into a large pot. Place over medium heat. Stir constantly with a spatula to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot. Once the porridge begins to boil, gently add the prepared glutinous rice balls. Stir gently to ensure they don’t sink. The rice balls are cooked when they float to the surface. Finally, season with a pinch of salt to your liking. If you prefer a sweeter taste, add sugar just before serving. Enjoy your warm and comforting Dongji Patjuk!
