How to Make Delicious Black Bean Sweet Soup (Vietnamese Chè Đỗ Đen) Quickly and Perfectly Soft

Black bean sweet soup, or chè đỗ đen, is a popular Vietnamese dessert, especially loved during hot summer days. It’s not only refreshing and mildly sweet but also helps cool the body, detoxify the liver and kidneys, and improve overall health.

However, cooking black beans until they are soft and flavorful can take quite a bit of time. If you want to reduce your cooking time while keeping the same delicious result, here’s a simple but effective trick you should know.

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Soak the Beans in Warm Water

Most people soak black beans in cold water before cooking, but using warm water can significantly shorten the soaking time — often cutting it in half while still ensuring that the beans soften evenly.

To do this, soak the beans in warm water (around 40–50°C) for about 2–4 hours. Once done, drain the soaking water and rinse the beans thoroughly before cooking. This method helps the beans cook faster and become soft and creamy inside without breaking apart.

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Ingredients for Black Bean Sweet Soup

1. Black Beans

Just like with other bean-based desserts, the key to a perfect pot of chè đỗ đen is choosing the right beans. Select black beans with a greenish core, small to medium in size, evenly shaped, and with a glossy black skin. Avoid dull-colored beans or those that look uneven and flat, as they tend to be old and less flavorful.

2. Sugar

You can use white sugar, golden sugar, or brown sugar, depending on your taste preference. Brown sugar gives the dessert a deeper caramel flavor and richer color, while white sugar provides a cleaner, lighter sweetness.

3. Coconut Milk and Toppings

To make your sweet soup extra fragrant and delicious, prepare some coconut milk for drizzling on top. You can also add other toppings such as:

• Freshly shredded coconut

• Dried coconut flakes

• A few drops of banana essence (dầu chuối) for aroma

• Roasted peanuts, crushed lightly for a crunchy texture

These toppings not only enhance the flavor but also make the dessert more visually appealing.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Soft, Flavorful Black Beans

Step 1: Clean and Soak the Beans

Rinse the black beans thoroughly and discard any broken or floating ones. Soak the beans in water for 4–6 hours (or overnight if possible). Adding a teaspoon of salt to the soaking water helps the beans soften faster and improves their flavor.

Step 2: Simmer the Beans

After soaking, drain and rinse the beans. Place them in a rice cooker or pot, add water until it’s about two fingers above the beans, and start cooking. Once the water begins to boil, let it simmer for about 5 minutes, then switch the cooker to “keep warm” mode.

Step 3: Rest and Reheat

Keep the pot in “warm” mode for about 15 minutes to allow the beans to continue softening slowly. Then, switch back to “cook” mode and let it boil again. After a few minutes, you’ll notice the beans have become tender and evenly cooked.

Step 4: Sweeten the Beans

Once the beans are soft, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to another pot, leaving the cooking liquid behind. Add sugar to the beans and simmer gently on low heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves and seeps into each bean. This step enhances the sweetness and gives the beans a shiny glaze.

Step 5: Combine and Finish

Pour the sweetened beans back into the pot with the cooking liquid. Adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding more sugar if needed. For a slightly thick, silky texture, mix a bit of tapioca starch (or arrowroot powder) with water and stir it in. Finally, add a few drops of vanilla extract to enhance the aroma.

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Serving Suggestions

When serving, ladle the sweet soup into bowls or glasses, add a drizzle of rich coconut milk, and top it with shredded coconut or jelly cubes for extra texture. You can enjoy it warm on cool days or chilled with ice for a perfect summer treat.

This simple recipe brings out the naturally fragrant, nutty flavor of black beans while saving you hours in the kitchen. Follow these steps, and you’ll have a bowl of creamy, aromatic chè đỗ đen that’s both nourishing and irresistibly delicious.