With the sweltering weather in Singapore these days, what's better than having a bowl of Chilled Barley with Ginkgo Nuts Dessert (白果腐竹薏米糖水)?
Barley has a long history in healing, and in the Traditional Chinese Medicine, Barley is considered to have cooling properties. If your kids do not like traditional Chinese desserts, serve your Barley chilled in cute #hellokitty bowls like these to tempt them. This adorable set of Hello Kitty bowls was a birthday present given by my son and his girlfriend last year. Aren't they sweet?
Sometime ago, I'd published a post on Chinese Remedies, The Power Of Ginger, Barley & Chrysanthemum! Due to the haze problem, many people were down with sore throats and getting sick then. These two TCM recipe are excellent remedies, so do check out the article.
I'd some leftover Chinese Pearl Barley, so I tried making Barley with Ginkgo Nuts (白果腐竹薏米糖水) with this type of barley. Somehow, I didn't quite like the texture of the Chinese Pearl Barley, which seemed harder than the usual type I use for cooking desserts. If you're just using it for making barley water and not eating it as a dessert just like the recipe above, then I guess it's ok. Else, stick to the normal type of barley. Please check with the Chinese Medicine Shop if you're not sure which kind to use.
For the health conscious foodies, try your Chinese dessert with NuStevia™ White Stevia™ Extract Powder instead of using rock sugar. Using only natural flavours that are plant based extracts, NuStevia products are gluten free, and contain no soy, yeast, wheat, artificial colours or flavours, preservatives, or artificial sweeteners etc.
Recipe Featured at Foodwhirl
Spotted at Kitchen Artistry
Ingredients:
200g Barley
50g Soft Beancurd Sticks
75g Melon cubes
2 tbsp vacuum-packed Ginkgo Nuts
1.5 litres Water
5 sachets of NuStevia White Powder
Method:
- Rinse and drain barley. Boil water and simmer barley and melon cubes for about an hour.
- Add beancurd sticks and ginkgo nuts. Be sure to buy the soft type of beancurd sticks meant for desserts. Continue to simmer for another 10 mins.
- Add NuStevia to taste and mix well.
- Serve your healthy NuStevia Barley with Ginkgo Nuts (白果腐竹薏米糖水) hot or chilled!
Hi Shirley!
ReplyDeleteWhat an enlightening post:) We don't have "sweltering" heat here in the states but the sun is finally shining in my neck of the woods and it promises to be a beautful day. Yipee!
I have never treid Stevia products but I sure can attest to the benefits of Barley. When we were kids, my grandmother always made us barley broth. In the Winter she served it hot and in the Summer cold. However, I have never had it as a dessert:)
Your Hello Kitty bowls are simply adorable. What a delightful present. I know I won't be preparing this chilled soup any time soon but I so appreciate you sharing your knowledge and the recipe. Thank you so much for sharing, Shirley...
Louise, wish I could join you in the nice weather over there! Barley broth? No sugar added? Would love to learn how barley is cooked other than Asian style :)
Deletethat is my favourite dessert. barley and lots of tau ki.
ReplyDeleteCquek, glad this caught your attention!
DeleteI was just wondering how you could incooperate European stuff into a very Chinese dessert. Ah ha.... so that's how you do it. Normally I don't eat the barley that I cook, so usually the Chinese barley is my choice as I like that it's less milky and the water taste better without the powdery taste. What I know is that the Chinese barley is usually larger in size, off white and there's a deep black line in the center, the other type of barley is usually smaller in size and it's usually very white. Thanks for sharing this recipe, I think replacing rock sugar with NuStevia is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteDS, guess you'll enjoy the previous recipe that I had posted before. Thanks for sharing with us your thoughts again.
DeleteLooks yummy! and Hello Kitty makes my eyes surprised of its cuteness
ReplyDeletexx
http://overloadstories.blogspot.com
Andrea, hahaha! Welcome to our Hello Kitty fan club! xoxo
DeleteHi Shirley, I love this dessert too, very refreshing. I especially love the ginkgo nuts. Beautiful display with your cute hello kitty. :))
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week ahead,regards.
Amelia, I enjoy adding ginkgo nuts into my dishes too. You have a good week too, my dear!
DeleteIt looks so yummy and cute! **
ReplyDelete❤ ✿ NEW POST ✿ ❤
Rinako
Rinako, thanks sweetie!
DeleteLove this dessert, i like to use soya milk instead of normal water for the thicker and richer flavor. I know i am odd but i like it to be served cold :x
ReplyDeleteKen, soya milk in barley? Next time you make for me? Hahaha! Cold for me too!
DeleteGreat recipe and and review how to incorporate in the meal.
ReplyDeletehttp://tifi11.blogspot.com
Jackie, thanks for your sweet note!
DeleteAh, always a pleasure to read your posts.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post :) Barley is medicinal.
You rock Shirley :)
Rajiv, thanks again for being so supportive! You rock too!
DeleteThe hello kitty bowls are so cutee *_*
ReplyDeleteDiana, aren't they? ^_^
DeleteThis is one of my favourite chinese dessert, so healthy and delicious! Just love your Hello Kitty bowels, so cute!
ReplyDeleteVeronica, awesome! I've to admit they're real cute!
DeleteI love the dessert and the Hello Kitty bowls are so nice.
ReplyDeleteSD, which is better?? Hahaha!
DeleteBarley desserts and ginko nuts aren't seen around here! But I'd sure love to sample your unique dessert!
ReplyDeleteLiz, seriously? Do try looking for it in Chinatown; you'll never know. Thanks, dear!
DeleteLooks yummy!~ Tempted to try!~
ReplyDeleteKylie, it's easy to make & so economical!
Deletei absolutely like this very much. it is suitable for now hot weather.
ReplyDeleteXing Hui, thanks for coming by & it's great having you here! xoxo
DeleteGood product. But I see your Hello Kitty collection is much better. So cute!
ReplyDeleteKathy, hahaha! Love, love, love!!
DeleteUnfortunately I can not eat barley but this healthy dessert looks very very tempting, I can try with some other gluten free grain. Thanks Shirley!
ReplyDeleteBal, that's a pity! Thanks dear, & have a good day!
DeleteLooks so yummy!
ReplyDeleteLove the bowls too! :)
Lina, I guess the hello kitty bowls outshine the desserts. Hahaha!
DeleteMy mum used to boil barley with beancurd sheet and eggs without the gingko when I was young...so far I have not boiled any barley with gingko for my family to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteAgnes, I add egg at times too, depending on my mood :) Try adding ginkgo nuts for some extra kick next time!
DeleteMy girl loves gingko nuts but I am always hesitating to buy gingko cos have to crack them open, soak in hot water.. take off their skin... etc etc.. that shows how "hardworking" I am! :) In the end, I always boil barley with the beancurd skin only.. .
ReplyDeleteReana, don't you have ready-made ones? I'm not so hardworking too. Lol! Those vacuum-packed ones are easily available in the supermarkets in SG.
DeleteI could totally do with a bowl of barley with ginkgo nuts right now to soothe my sore throat. Looks very good!!!
ReplyDeleteTrishie, oh dear! Speedy recovery, my dear!
DeleteI love this dessert. I cook it once a while but most of the times, I cook mung bean soup. Hubby prefer the latter one. Lol
ReplyDeleteRose, hubby likes that too,but I prefer barley. He enjoys his mung bean dessert by adding some rice into it during cooking :)
DeleteI tried gingko nuts only once but they were so lovely :D
ReplyDeleteWonderful recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Uru, I'm plesantly surprised that a non-Asian can accept the taste of ginkgo nuts. Nice!
DeleteI've just tried gingko nuts in recent years and love them!
ReplyDeleteMonica, cool! It's really nice to know that.
DeleteYummy dessert. . and with your favourite bowls..so cute...hehe..
ReplyDeleteEH, next time serve you in these! ^_^
Deletethis is one of my favorite dessert. what brand of 50g Soft Beancurd Sticks should we buy? cos not every brand will taste good .
ReplyDeletePepper, I don't pick a particular brand. I buy at random, but so far all turned out well. Just be careful not to buy the wrong ones for cooking braised pork. If you're not sure, ask the shop keeper :)
DeleteIT's so love to see those desserts with Hello Kitty bowls. yep my mum always make this 'Chilled Barley with Ginkgo Nuts Dessert' during hot weather to cool down our body. by the way is the NuStevia product the same as the Stevia white coffee which is available in Papparich eating outlet in Malaysia?
ReplyDeleteHong, those bowls are indeed a darling, aren't they? Hahaha! Stevia white coffee?? I doubt so. You can always visit NuNaturals link above to ease your curosity :)
Delete