Seoul Sweet Symphony—Dessert for 6
“Seoul Sweet Symphony” is a delightful Korean dessert that harmoniously blends traditional flavors. This dessert features a medley of sweet rice cakes, red bean paste, and honey syrup, topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds. It’s a perfect ending to any meal, offering a taste of Seoul’s culinary charm.
Do This With That Stuff
- ‘Start by sifting 2 cups of sweet rice flour into a large mixing bowl using a sieve
- Add 1 cup of water to the sifted flour and whisk it thoroughly until it forms a smooth batter Make sure there are no lumps in the mixture
- Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and set aside for about 30 minutes to let the batter rest
- While the batter is resting, prepare the red bean filling In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of red bean paste and 1/2 cup of sugar Mix well until sugar is fully incorporated into the paste
- Prepare your steamer by placing a large pot on the stove Fill it with water up to half its height and place a steamer basket inside Ensure that the water level is below the steamer basket
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside
- After the batter has rested, stir it once more with your wooden spoon then pour spoonfuls onto your lined baking sheet, forming small circles about 3 inches in diameter
- Place a teaspoon of red bean filling in the center of each circle then fold over to form half-moons Press edges together to seal them securely
- Once all circles are filled and sealed, place them in your preheated steamer basket Cover with lid and steam for about 15 minutes or until they become translucent
- While dumplings are steaming, prepare syrup by combining 1/2 cup honey and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan Bring to simmer over medium heat until it thickens slightly, stirring occasionally with wooden spoon
- Once dumplings are done, remove them from steamer using spatula and place them on dessert plates while still warm
- Brush each dumpling generously with honey syrup using pastry brush then sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top for garnish before serving’
Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings
☕ Bitter
- ‘Add 1 tbsp of matcha powder to the sweet rice flour
- Add 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder to the red bean paste
- Replace sugar with 1/3 cup of dark brown sugar in the red bean paste
- Add 1 tsp of espresso powder to the honey syrup’
🧂 Salty
- ‘Add 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt to the sweet rice flour mixture
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the red bean paste mixture
- Replace honey in the syrup with 1/2 cup of soy sauce for a salty-sweet syrup’
🍋 Sour
- ‘Add 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the batter
- Add zest of 1 lemon to the red bean filling
- Replace 1/4 cup of water in syrup with 1/4 cup of rice vinegar’
🌶️ Spicy
- ‘Add 1 tsp of ground cinnamon to the sweet rice flour mixture
- Add 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper to the red bean filling
- Add 1/2 tsp of ground ginger to the honey syrup
- Garnish with a sprinkle of chili flakes before serving’
🍬 Sweet
- ‘Increase the sugar to 3/4 cup
- Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar to the red bean filling
- Add 1 tsp of vanilla extract to the batter
- Increase the honey in syrup to 3/4 cup
- Add 1/2 cup of chopped dates to the red bean filling
- Sprinkle powdered sugar on top before serving’
🍄 Umami
- ‘Add 1 tbsp of soy sauce to the red bean filling
- Add 1/2 tsp of ground seaweed to the sweet rice flour mixture
- Replace sugar with 1/3 cup of mirin in the red bean filling
- Add 1/4 cup of dried shiitake mushroom powder to the sweet rice flour mixture’
🍸 Alcoholic
- ‘Soju: The clean and neutral flavor of Soju complements the sweet and rich flavors of the dish without overpowering it
- Makgeolli: This traditional Korean rice wine has a sweet and slightly tangy flavor that pairs well with the sweet rice flour and red bean paste in the dish
- Plum Wine: The sweet and fruity notes of plum wine balance out the sweetness of the honey syrup and complement the overall flavor profile of the dish’
🥤 Non Alcoholic
- ‘Korean Barley Tea (Boricha): The nutty and slightly bitter flavor of this tea balances the sweetness of the dessert
- Korean Plum Tea (Maesil Cha): The tartness and fruity flavor of this tea complements the sweet and rich red bean paste filling
- Korean Rice Punch (Sikhye): The sweet and mildly grainy taste of this traditional Korean drink pairs well with the rice-based dessert’
🥓 Keto
- Replace 2 cups sweet rice flour with 2 cups almond flour
- Replace 1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 cup erythritol
- Replace 1 cup red bean paste with 1 cup unsweetened almond butter
- Replace 1/2 cup honey with 1/2 cup sugar-free maple syrup
🍆 Mediterranean
- ‘Replace sweet rice flour with semolina
- Replace red bean paste with fig jam
- Replace honey with agave syrup
- Add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
- Add 1/2 cup of chopped dates
- Replace sesame seeds with crushed pistachios’
🥑 Paleo
- ‘Replace sweet rice flour with 2 cups of almond flour
- Replace sugar with 1/2 cup of raw honey
- Replace red bean paste with 1 cup of mashed strawberries
- Remove honey from syrup and replace with 1/2 cup of coconut nectar’
🐟 Pescatarian
- No changes necessary. The recipe is already pescatarian friendly.
🌱 Vegan
- Replace the honey with 1/2 cup of agave nectar
- Replace the red bean paste with 1 cup of vegan red bean paste
🥦 Vegetarian
- No changes needed. The recipe is already vegetarian-friendly.
🥩 Whole30
- Remove sugar
- Replace honey with 1/2 cup date paste
- Replace red bean paste with 1 cup mashed sweet potato
🧠 Brain Health
- ‘Replace sugar with 1/4 cup of raw honey
- Add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
- Add 1/2 cup of blueberries
- Replace sweet rice flour with 2 cups of almond flour
- Increase sesame seeds to 3 tbsp’
🌾 Celiac Disease
- No changes necessary for this recipe. All ingredients listed are gluten-free and safe for individuals with celiac disease.
💩 Crohns Disease
- Remove sugar
- Replace red bean paste with mashed ripe bananas
- Replace honey with maple syrup
- Decrease sweet rice flour to 1.5 cups
- Add 1/2 cup of oat flour
🩸 Diabetes
- Replace 1/2 cup sugar with 1/4 cup of Stevia
- Replace 1/2 cup honey with 1/4 cup of agave nectar
- Increase red bean paste to 1.5 cups
- Add 1 tsp of cinnamon
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
- No changes necessary. The recipe is already gluten-free as it uses sweet rice flour which is naturally gluten-free.
🫀 Heart Disease
- ‘Replace sugar with 1/4 cup of Stevia
- Replace honey with 1/4 cup of agave nectar
- Decrease red bean paste to 3/4 cup
- Add 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed for added fiber’
❤️ Heart Health
- ‘Replace sugar with 1/4 cup of stevia
- Replace honey with 1/2 cup of agave nectar
- Add 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed to the sweet rice flour mixture
- Replace red bean paste with 1 cup of low-sodium black bean paste’
🧂 High Blood Pressure
- ‘Remove sugar
- Replace honey with 1/2 cup of agave syrup
- Decrease the red bean paste to 3/4 cup’
🍔 High Cholesterol
- Decrease the sugar to 1/4 cup
- Replace honey with 1/2 cup of agave syrup
- Replace red bean paste with 1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese mixed with 2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder
- Add 1/4 cup of ground flaxseeds for added fiber and omega-3 fatty acids
🦠 Immune System
- ‘Replace sugar with 1/4 cup of raw honey
- Add 1/2 cup of chopped ginger
- Add 2 cloves of minced garlic
- Replace water in syrup with 1/4 cup of lemon juice
- Add 1 tablespoon of turmeric to the sweet rice flour mixture
- Add 1/2 cup of chopped scallions to the red bean filling’
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- ‘Replace sugar with 1/4 cup of stevia
- Replace honey with 1/4 cup of maple syrup
- Replace red bean paste with 1 cup of mashed ripe bananas
- Increase water for syrup to 1/2 cup’
💧 Kidney Disease
- ‘Remove sugar
- Replace honey with sugar-free syrup
- Decrease red bean paste to 1/2 cup
- Add 1/2 cup of mashed cauliflower for filling volume’
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
- No changes needed. This recipe is already lactose intolerance friendly as it does not contain any dairy products.
🍺 Liver Disease
- ‘Replace sugar with stevia equivalent to 1/2 cup
- Replace honey with agave syrup equivalent to 1/2 cup
- Decrease red bean paste to 3/4 cup
- Add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts for added protein and healthy fats’
🤰 Pregnancy
- Decrease the sugar to 1/4 cup
- Replace honey with maple syrup
Beti’s Reflections
On my latest culinary adventure, I found myself immersed in the vibrant flavors of Korean cuisine. Among the many treasures I discovered was this gem, the ‘Seoul Sweet Symphony’. This recipe is a delightful Korean dessert that harmoniously blends traditional flavors and offers a taste of Seoul’s culinary charm.
The ‘Seoul Sweet Symphony’ is a perfect ending to any meal, serving up to six people with its delightful medley of sweet rice cakes, red bean paste, and honey syrup. However, please note that this recipe may not be suitable for those following gluten-free diets, vegan desserts, low-carb meals, no-sugar treats or dairy-free dishes.
The ingredients for our Seoul Sweet Symphony Recipe are simple yet full of flavor. We start with sweet rice flour which forms the base for our Korean Sweet Rice Dumplings. The dumplings are filled with red bean paste – a staple in many Homemade Korean Desserts – and sweetened with sugar. A drizzle of honey syrup adds an extra layer of sweetness while toasted sesame seeds provide a nutty crunch that perfectly complements the soft dumplings.
Making this Red Bean Paste Dessert begins by sifting sweet rice flour into a large mixing bowl and whisking it with water until smooth. After letting the batter rest, we prepare our red bean filling by mixing red bean paste and sugar together. Our Steamed Dumpling Recipes always emphasize the importance of sealing your dumplings securely after filling them to ensure they hold their shape during steaming. While your dumplings are steaming away to perfection, prepare your honey syrup by simmering honey and water together until slightly thickened. Once done, generously brush each warm dumpling with honey syrup and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top before serving.
And there you have it! Your very own homemade Seoul Sweet Symphony – a delightful Korean dessert that’s sure to impress at your next dinner party or family gathering! This recipe is just one example of how easy it can be to make Traditional Korean Sweet Treats at home using simple ingredients like sweet rice flour and red bean paste. So why not try making these delicious Homemade Red Bean Paste Dumplings yourself? You might just discover your new favorite dessert!
Leave a Reply