Asian Black Beans, KS, 12 oz

These small-sized dried Asian black beans are used to cook many delicious Thai desserts. Please note that this type of black bean is not the same as you would find in a Western supermarket, being about half the size. They are more akin to the Japanese adzuki bean. This size makes it more agreeable for preparing authentic Thai desserts, which typically require rapid cooking. Also they are easier to digest.

A typical and easy Thai dessert, Sticky Rice with Black Beans in Coconut Milk (khao neow dtua dahm in Thai), is prepared by lightly sweetening coconut milk with palm sugar and serving it over the sweetened cooked black beans and steamed sticky rice. You can also omit the sticky rice and just enjoy the black beans boiled directly in sweetened coconut milk (dtua dahm kaeng buad in Thai). This small black bean is also often added to sweet sticky rice in banana leaf (ข้าวต้มมัด kao dtum mut in Thai) and tapioca black bean pudding.

To prepare pre-soak the beans overnight, drain and boil in fresh water (or coconut milk) until cooked through.

Thai Black Bean Dessert (ขนมถั่วดำ)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup boiled Asian black beans
• 1/2 cup rice flour
• 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
• 1 tablespoon mung bean flour
• 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup Mae Ploy Coconut Milk (refrigerate and use just the top heavy cream)
• 1/2 cup shredded fresh coconut meat with enough added salt for salty taste

Preparation

1. Puree black beans in blender until smooth. Set aside
2. Mix the 3 flours and then add the black beans, granulated sugar and salt and mix again until homogenous.
3. Pour in Chaokoh Coconut Cream little by little until it's all used up, and mix again.
4. Portion the mixture in small porcelain cups and steam until it gels. Sprinkle the shredded coconut meat on the top, continue steaming until cooked (about 15 minutes), remove, and let cool down.
5. Remove from cups. Place on dish and serve as a snack or dessert.

Cooking Tips:** Make sure it cools long enough to solidify completely, otherwise the surface will not be smooth. If you remove too quickly, that is before it has cooled, some might stick to the cup and won't look as appetizing. ** Use a thin sharp knife tip to help remove the sweet from the cup by running it completely around the inner edge. ** If you don't like black beans, you can use instead crushed banana, squash, lotus seeds, etc.

Recipe adapted from Theppadungporn Coconut Co, Ltd; Image copyright Theppadungporn Coconut Co, Ltd