Sweet Potatoes and Sterculia Seed Dessert

A plate of Sterculia Seeds/Pangdahai/Mollow Nuts before soaking

Sterculia Seed is known as Pangdahai or Boat Sterculia Seed or Semen Sterculiae Lychnopherae or Mollow Nuts. It is often found in Cheng Tng dessert and you can purchase it from the Chinese Medical Shop (known pang da hai, 100g for around $2.50). Sterculia Seed is good for clearing lungs, moistening throat, treating heaty phlegm, constipation and fever. I love this very much as it looks so elegant in the dessert with its loose jelly like mass floating around. For quick and easy cooking, I place all ingredients and bring to a boil. In fact, you can add sterculia seed and rock sugar at the later stage.

Preparation: 10 mins, plus 30 mins standing time, Cooking time: 15 mins

Ingredients (serves 2)
° 100g sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
° 6-8 sterculia seeds/mollow nuts, lightly bruised
° 50g fresh lotus seed
° 6 dried longan, soaked
° 4 pandan leaves (screwpine), tied into a knot
° 500ml-600ml water
° 1 slice ginger
° 50g rock sugar, or to taste

Method
1. Soak sterculia seed in ample water for 20-30 minutes until the flesh has expanded into a loose, jelly like mass. Peel off and discard the skin.
2. Place all the ingredients in a pot. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
3. Ladle the dessert into individual serving bowls and serve hot or chilled.