Mooncake, Bánh Trung Thu, from Ăn Chưa?
Vietnamese mooncakes are traditionally made with mung beans but black-eyed peas make an excellent substitute with these elegant sweets.
Equipment
- Spoon
- Tea Towel
- Parchment Paper
- Mooncake Molds
Ingredients
Bean Filling
- 1 ½ cups mung beans or black-eyed peas
- 3 cups water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup oil
- egg yolks cooked, salted
Dough
- ⅜ cup honey or dark corn syrup
- 2 tablespoon neutral cooking oil
- 1½ teaspoon peanut butter creamy
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg yolk large
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
Egg Mixture
- 1 egg yolk large
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon milk
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Cook the Beans: Wash your hands with soap and water. Soak the beans for 4 hours to overnight. Wash your hands and transfer the beans to a large pan. Turn the stove to medium-high heat. Add the fresh water and salt. Cover with a lid. Bring the liquid to a boil and skim off the bubbles. Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until the beans are tender. Turn off the stove.
- Puree the Bean Mixture: Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth. Add the cornstarch and water to a small bowl and stir to form a slurry. Add the sugar, vanilla, and cornstarch slurry to the pan with the bean mixture and cook over low heat. Periodically add 2 tbs of the oil and fold into the paste to prevent the beans from burning. Cook for 30 minutes or until it has thickened and can hold its shape. Turn off the stove, cover the filling, and refrigerate for 15 minutes or overnight.
- Make the Dough: Add the honey, oil, peanut butter, vanilla, and raw egg yolk to a small bowl. Add the flour and mix. When finished the dough should be moist, slightly sticky, and easy to shape. Roll the dough into a ball, cover it with plastic or a tea towel, and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Form the Mooncake: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Divide the filling into eight portions. Form each portion into a ball. If using the salted egg yolk, use your thumb to press down the filling in the center before inserting the egg yolk. Set it aside and move on to the dough. Shape the dough into a tight ball using both palms. Spray the molds with cooking spray. Divide the dough into 8 portions and roll each one into a small ball. Roll out each dough ball into a disk and lay one in the palm of your hand. Place a bean ball in the center and tightly wrap the dough around it. Lightly dust the top and place in the mooncake mold. Press it gently to fill any empty corners. Flip it over and use the handle to push the mooncake out onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Repeat until all the dough and filling is used.
- Bake the Mooncake: Bake the mooncakes for 13 minutes. While they are baking, prepare the egg mixture for brushing. Combine the egg yolk, sesame oil, milk, and honey. Remove the mooncakes from the oven and spray with a mist of water. Let them cool for 10 minutes. Use a pastry brush to apply the egg mixture and return them to the oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and spray them. Let them cool for 10 minutes. Brush with the egg mixture and return to the oven. Bake for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Bake for an additional 5 minutes. Turn off the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Notes
- The mooncakes will last for 1 week in the fridge or 3 months frozen
- The same amount of sugar or other sweeteners can be substituted for stevia
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
- See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
- Full Recipe Info and Pictures at: https://happyhomeschooladventures.com/mooncake
Nutrition
Calories: 549kcalCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 13gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 94mgPotassium: 534mgFiber: 7gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 110IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 4mg
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
