Patbingsu
Patbingsu first appears in written sources from the Joseon dynasty period, when natural ice, stored in winter in special pits, was reserved exclusively for the royal court. The modern version, with red beans and condensed milk, only spread during the Japanese colonial period, and in recent decades cafés have turned it into an elaborate dessert with dozens of possible toppings. Ice shaved from milk rather than water remains the hallmark of a superior-quality patbingsu, which is why specialist cafés often advertise this technical detail on their menus.
Ice shaved from frozen milk
Quality shaved ice is shaved from frozen milk rather than water, producing incredibly fluffy, creamy flakes.
Sweet red beans, the mandatory ingredient
Azuki beans slow-cooked with sugar remain the one ingredient present in absolutely every version of patbingsu.
Chewy rice cake pieces (tteok)
Small cubes of tteok, chewy rice cakes, bring a soft, elastic texture that contrasts with the cold ice.
Condensed milk poured generously
Sweet condensed milk, poured over the whole thing, binds the ice and toppings into a creamy whole.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 500ml milk, frozen into cubes
- 300g sweetened boiled azuki red beans
- 100g tteok cubes (rice cakes)
- 100ml sweetened condensed milk
- 50g fresh fruit (strawberries or peaches), sliced
- 20g toasted cereal flakes
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- A dusting of roasted soybean powder (injeolmi powder)
How to make it
- 1Freeze the milk in ice cube trays a day ahead, until completely solid.
- 2Cook the azuki beans with sugar and a pinch of salt over low heat, until soft and the syrup thickens.
- 3Shave the frozen milk with a special machine or a powerful blender, producing fine, fluffy flakes.
- 4Fill each bowl with a generous amount of shaved ice.
- 5Arrange the sweet red beans, tteok cubes, and fresh fruit on top of the ice.
- 6Pour condensed milk generously over the whole thing.
- 7Sprinkle toasted cereal flakes and a little roasted soybean powder on top, serving immediately, before the ice melts.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
