Ice Jelly | 冰粉

Bing Fen also called ice jelly, is a traditional Chinese jelly dessert that is particularly popular in Sichuan cuisine. It’s a refreshing and cooling dish perfect for hot weather. Here’s how you can make it at home:

Ingredients

For the jelly:

  • 50g bing fen powder (also known as ice powder, made from seeds of the Nicandra physalodes plant)
  • 1 liter of water

For the syrup:

  • 200g rock sugar (or granulated sugar)
  • 500ml water
  • A few slices of ginger
  • 1-2 pandan leaves (optional, for additional flavor)

For the toppings (choose any combination):

  • Fresh fruits (mango, kiwi, strawberries, watermelon, etc.)
  • Goji berries
  • Raisins
  • Chopped nuts (peanuts, almonds, etc.)
  • Osmanthus flowers (dried or in syrup form)
  • Haw flakes (thin, sweet slices made from the Chinese hawthorn fruit)
  • Chia seeds (optional, for added texture)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the jelly:
    • Dissolve the bing fen powder in a small amount of cold water to make a smooth paste.
    • Bring 1 liter of water to a boil in a pot.
    • Gradually stir the bing fen paste into the boiling water, making sure to stir continuously to prevent lumps.
    • Continue to cook and stir until the mixture thickens and becomes translucent.
    • Pour the mixture into a large dish or several smaller molds and let it cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate until set (about 2-3 hours).
  2. Prepare the syrup:
    • In a saucepan, combine the rock sugar, water, ginger slices, and pandan leaves (if using).
    • Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the sugar is completely dissolved and the syrup is infused with the ginger and pandan flavors.
    • Remove from heat and let it cool. Strain out the ginger and pandan leaves.
  3. Assemble the bing fen:
    • Once the jelly is set, cut it into small cubes or scoop it into bowls.
    • Add a few spoonfuls of the cooled syrup over the jelly.
    • Top with your choice of fresh fruits, goji berries, nuts, osmanthus flowers, haw flakes, or chia seeds.
  4. Serve:
    • Serve the bing fen immediately, or refrigerate it for a bit longer if you prefer it extra cold.

Tips

  • Adjust the sweetness of the syrup according to your taste.
  • Bing fen is very versatile, so feel free to experiment with different toppings and syrups.
  • If you can’t find bing fen powder, you can substitute with agar-agar or gelatin, but the texture and flavor might be slightly different.

Enjoy your homemade bing fen, a delightful and refreshing Chinese dessert!

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