Bingsu

Bingsu is a mountain of fluffy shaved ice or milk ice topped with sweet red beans, fruit, condensed milk and rice cakes. It is a refreshing treat for hot days.

Bingsu

Patbingsu: 국립국어원, CC BY-SA 2.0 kr (Wikimedia Commons)

Where it comes from

Shaved ice with sweet beans has a long history in Korea, and modern cafes added milk ice, fruits and creative toppings. It is meant to be shared with spoons all around.

Explore the cuisine of South Korea.

Recipe

Make Bingsu at home

Serves 2-3Time 15 minutes plus freezing

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole milk, frozen in a flat tray
  • 1/2 cup sweet red bean paste
  • 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup diced mango or strawberries
  • 1/4 cup mochi pieces or rice cakes
  • 1 tablespoon roasted soybean powder (injeolmi)
  • Ice cream, optional

How it's made

  1. Freeze the milk in a shallow tray for at least 4 hours.
  2. Chill serving bowls in the freezer.
  3. Shave the frozen milk with a bingsu machine, or break it up and blend in short pulses to a fluffy snow.
  4. Pile the shaved milk ice into the cold bowl.
  5. Add red bean paste, fruit and mochi.
  6. Drizzle condensed milk and dust with soybean powder.

Variations

  • Patbingsu: classic red bean version
  • Mango bingsu
  • Injeolmi bingsu with roasted soybean powder

Cook’s tip: Serve right away; shaved ice melts fast.

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About this page

Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.

Photo credit