Sweet Mung Bean and Lotus Seed Soup

What happens when you take:

Lotus Seeds

Mung Beans

Rock Sugar

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Happiness in a bowl :)

This stuff is so refreshing. It's good for you too and luckily, comes together in a pinch.  My mom made this for me countless times as a kid, but this is my first time making it myself - and it is just as simple and delicious as I remember.

Sweet Mung Bean and Lotus Seed Soup
Makes 4 generous bowls

Ingredients
~1/2 cup dried mung beans, rinsed (available at most Asian grocery stores)
~20 dried lotus seeds, rinsed (also at Asian grocery stores) - you can also omit the lotus seeds
- 1/4 cup rock candy* or to desired sweetness

Fill a 3 quart pot about halfway with water and bring water to a boil. Add the lotus seeds and allow to boil at medium heat for about 10 min. Now add your mung beans and rock candy and simmer, covered, about 30 minutes or until mung beans are "split open" and soft. Serve warm, or better yet, on a hot summer day, chilled.

*Can substitute white sugar for rock candy. The recipe classically uses rock candy but I didn't have any and used white granulated sugar and it was fine. I wouldn't use brown sugar though - you want a sugar without a strong taste to let the beans and lotus flavor shine.