Liang Fen (涼粉), Chinese Mung Bean Jelly
This salty and spicy dish is garnished with fresh, crunchy toppings! Liang fen, served cold, has a unique jelly texture that is perfect for enjoying during warmer weather.
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 270kcal
Ingredients
Mung Bean Jelly
- 65 g mung bean starch 1/2 cup (or potato / pea starch)
- 120 mL water 1/2 cup
- 600 mL water 2.5 cups
Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp black rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- chili oil to taste
Toppings
- sesame seeds
- cilantro chopped
- green onion sliced
- toasted peanuts chopped
- cucumber julienned
Instructions
- Bring the 2.5 cups of water to a simmer in a large pot. Lower the heat so that just a few small bubbles are bubbling on the bottom of the pot (just under a simmer). **Note 1
- Mix the starch and 1/2 cup of water together in a separate bowl until completely smooth.
- Gradually add the starch water to the pot, mixing swiftly to combine. **Note 2
- Continue to gently stir and cook the mixture on medium-low until it has thickened into a uniform paste and is translucent (roughly a few minutes). See photos below for reference.
- Transfer to a container to cool. Store the jelly in the fridge for a few hours to solidify completely.
- Unmold the jelly and cut into your desired shape(s) (e.g. cubes, thick strips, or noodles, **Note 3 for noodles).
- Mix the sauce ingredients together and pour over the jelly.
- Top with your desired garnish(es). Serve immediately!
Notes
- Some recipes have the water brought up to a boil to cook the starch slurry. I found that boiling the water causes the slurry to thicken much quicker, making it harder to handle. If your water is right under a simmer, it will be hot enough to gelatinize the starch.
- Make sure the starch water is completely smooth/lump-free. Once it is, add it immediately to the pot. This prevents clumps of unmixed starch from forming.
- There is a special tool that is used often to make the noodle shape. It is similar to a cheese grater, but is a small, circular kitchen gadget. To make the noodles, swipe the grater across the surface of the hardened jelly in a long motion to create long noodles. You should be able to source this tool online if you are interested.