Lean Chee Kang ~ Sweet Lotus seeds dessert

I served this for breakfast on the 1st day of the  lunar New Year   ...........  'Lean Chee Kang', sweet soup of lotus seeds, longan, dried ' pak hup' or lily bulb and rock sugar to usher in a 'sweetish' New Year.  Another name for this 'tong sui', sweet drink is 'Pak Lean Hoe Hup', which means, "'hundred' years of harmonious and  happy marriage". Thus, being auspicious this sweet dessert is commonly served at weddings, birthdays and New Year.  Read more on lotus seeds here.

Dried lotus seeds with skin, dried 'pak hup' or lily bulb, rock sugar and dried longan

This sweet soup is very refreshing and you can also add in some hard boiled chicken eggs or quail eggs, if desired.

Recipe for Lean Chee Kang

Ingredients

• 250 gm dried lotus seeds with skin
• 50 gm dried longan, washed
• 30 gm dried pak hup
• 3 litres of water
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 3 pandan leaves
• Rock sugar to taste

Preparation

1. Put dried lotus seeds in a  basin and add in enough water to cover them.  Add in the bicarbonate of soda.  Set aside for 2 to 2.1/5 hours.
2. Rub the seeds with the palms of your hands to remove the skin and use a toothpick to pierce through the hole of the seeds to remove the green stem, which can be bitter.
3. Meanwhile, wash the dried pak hup and soak them in hot water for about 20 mins.  Drain and set aside.
4. Bring water to a boil, add in lotus seeds, rock sugar and cook till soft.
5. Add in the dried longan and pandan leaves.
6. Taste for sweetness and finally stir in the pak hup.
7. Ladle into bowls and serve.
8. This can be served hot or chilled.