PATBINGSU: A SUGARY MOUNTAIN

Korean Patbingsu

With summer right around the corner, who isn’t craving a cool plate of patbingsu? All throughout Korea, the sense that proves summer's imminent approach is taste, as restaurants and cafés throughout the country unite in offering the classic Korean dessert “patbingsu” - literally translated to “red bean ice flakes.”

For those who have yet to take part in this Korean craze, patbingsu is a summer staple throughout Korea and in its simplest form consists of shaved or flaked ice, condensed milk, and sweetened red bean paste, usually topped with tteok, or rice cake. It is said that the forefather of this refreshing snack was first enjoyed during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), when government officials charged with care of the “royal ice box” would take turns to shave ice, before adding fruit to serve.

Though shaved ice desserts have been available in various forms across the world for centuries, the addition of sweetened red bean paste in the early 20th century is what made patbingsu a uniquely Korean treat. This combination of shaved ice and red beans is Korean in origin, and one that Koreans are still, rightly, proud to call their own.

Patbingsu is more than a dessert: it is a constantly changing yet everlastingly delicious piece of Korean history; a reminder of how far and quickly the country has created industrial and commercial success. In the modern Korean household, patbingsu is a must, and now you can add this delectable dish to your long list of must-haves.

Recipe

Time: 5-10 minutes

Yield: 1-2 cups

Ingredients:

Ice (shaved ice)

1/2 can of red bean

1 tablespoon of condensed milk

1/3 of a pack of mochi

Strawberries and bananas

1 cup of milk.

Instructions:

1. First, get an ice shaver, and a block of ice and shave it.

2. After that, get half a can of red bean paste and put it in the bowl.

3. Next, get one tablespoon of condensed milk and pour it into the bowl.

4. Then, get one-third of a pack of little mochis and put them in the bowl.

5. Add whatever fruit you want, but this time it’s strawberries and bananas.

6. Afterwards, add one cup of milk into the bowl, spread it out.

7. Now, mix! And enjoy!