The Most Flavorful Vietnamese Sweet Soup Recipes

Vietnamese sweet soups, known as "Chè," are a delightful and integral part of Vietnamese cuisine. These desserts come in numerous varieties, offering a perfect blend of flavors and textures that leave a lasting impression. Below are some of the most flavorful Vietnamese sweet soup recipes that you can easily make at home.

1. Chè Ba Màu (Three Color Dessert)

Chè Ba Màu is a stunning dessert featuring three distinct layers of vibrant colors. The base consists of mung beans, red beans, and pandan jelly, topped with creamy coconut milk.

Ingredients: Mung beans, adzuki beans, pandan leaves, sugar, coconut milk, and ice.

Instructions: Cook the mung beans and mash them, prepare red beans by boiling until soft, and make pandan jelly using agar-agar. Layer the ingredients in a glass and drizzle with coconut milk before serving.

2. Chè Đậu Xanh (Mung Bean Sweet Soup)

This creamy and comforting dessert is made from mung beans cooked with sugar and coconut milk, often enjoyed warm or cold.

Ingredients: Mung beans, sugar, coconut milk, and a pinch of salt.

Instructions: Soak the mung beans overnight, then boil until soft. Mash them with sugar and a pinch of salt, and stir in the coconut milk. Serve warm or chilled.

3. Chè Thái (Thai-Inspired Mixed Fruit Dessert)

Chè Thái offers a fruity and refreshing taste, making it a perfect summer dessert. It contains a variety of tropical fruits, jelly, and coconut milk.

Ingredients: Jackfruit, longan, lychee, taro, jelly, and coconut milk.

Instructions: Dice the fruits, cook and cool the taro, and prepare the jelly. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, drizzle with coconut milk, and serve over ice.

4. Chè Trôi Nước (Glutinous Rice Balls in Sweet Ginger Syrup)

This warm dessert features chewy rice balls filled with sweet mung bean paste, submerged in fragrant ginger syrup.

Ingredients: Glutinous rice flour, mung beans, sugar, fresh ginger, and water.

Instructions: Cook the mung beans and mash them with sugar. Make small balls from glutinous rice flour, stuff with the mung bean mixture, and boil until they float. Prepare a ginger syrup by boiling sliced ginger with water and sugar. Serve the rice balls in the syrup.

5. Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng (Traditional Herbal Sweet Soup)

This nourishing dessert combines various herbs and ingredients, believed to promote health and wellness. It's often served warm and includes nuts, dried fruits, and herbal ingredients.

Ingredients: Lotus seeds, goji berries, dried longan, sweet potato, and sugar.

Instructions: Soak the lotus seeds and goji berries overnight, then cook them with diced sweet potato until tender. Sweeten to taste and serve warm.

6. Chè Gai (Sweet Soup with Wormwood)

An unusual but delightful treat, Chè Gai is made from a unique herb called wormwood, which lends a distinct flavor to this sweet soup.

Ingredients: Wormwood, glutinous rice flour, sugar, and coconut milk.

Instructions: Prepare wormwood by washing and chopping, mix with glutinous rice flour to make dough, and form balls. Cook the balls, and serve them in coconut milk with sugar to taste.

These delectable Vietnamese sweet soups not only satisfy your sweet tooth but also provide a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam. Whether you enjoy them warm or cold, each recipe is a delightful way to explore the diverse flavors of Vietnamese desserts.