Sweet Potato and Ginger Dessert Soup (番薯糖水)

Name: Sweet Potato and Ginger Dessert Soup (番薯糖水)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 kg / 2.2 lb sweet potato; 60 g / 0.1 lb ginger ((or to preference)); 100 g / 0.22 brown sugar slab ((or to taste)); 1 1/2 L / 6.3 US cup water

Warm spices with buttery vegetables makes our Sweet Potato and Ginger Dessert Soup an ultra satisfying way to end the day. It uses only 4 ingredients and is a healthy alternative for those quick sugar cravings. All you have to do peel, boil and simmer, then enjoy it hot or cold!

Sweet Potato and Ginger Dessert Soup in a pot.

A humble way to soothe the soul

I don’t know abut you, but I always need something sweet to end a savory meal. Whether I’m complementing a noodle dish with Silky Egg Pudding (冰花燉蛋) or indulging in Fudgy Matcha Brownies to go with my Hong Kong Style Baked Pork Chop Rice (焗豬扒飯), I just have to finish things off with a hit of sugar.

Having said that, there are times when I just want it to be something SIMPLE. No fuss, no fancy ingredients.

That’s when I turn to a Cantonese favorite – Sweet Potato and Ginger Dessert Soup!

The recipe’s cooking style is the same as how we would make dessert soups with snow fungus or hashima. It’s a humble technique that ensures the family is nourished and everyone can go to bed with a smile.

All you have to do is throw all the prepped ingredients in boiling water, let it simmer for 15 minutes and you’re done!

How incredibly easy is that? Like I said: no fuss, nothing fancy. But maximum satisfaction.

For this dish in particular, that satisfaction comes from two things: (1) the buttery sweet potatoes cooked tender enough for your spoon to cut through and (2) the spicy warmth that OOZES from crushed ginger.

In short, here’s a recipe you must have in your back pocket!

Which sweet potato do I use?

For this recipe, we like to use orange or purple sweet potatoes. They’re buttery when cooked and have a delicate sweetness that complements ginger and sugar, or even coconut cream in curry.

The orange type is orange on the inside with brown-orange skin while the purple ones are purple on the inside but can have cream or grey-brown skin.

Both are great and have a balanced flavor that works wonderfully in this tong sui!

Close up of Sweet Potato and Ginger Dessert Soup.

Why this recipe works

Using brown sugar slabs means the sweetness is rich and gentle without being overpowering.
The sweet potatoes are cut into large chunks to keep their shape and provide great texture.
Old ginger adds a warm spiciness that makes this perfect for a post-dinner treat.

What you’ll need

Ginger along with a food processor of water, sweet potatoes and a plate of brown sugar slabs.

About the ingredients

We use brown sugar slabs (pin tong 片糖) for this recipe, but you can use palm sugar or any that you have on hand. Just make sure to adjust it to taste.

This recipe uses old ginger (lo gurng 老姜) for a spicier warmth. Lo gurng can be purchased looking brown and wrinkly whereas its younger counterpart is soft, smooth and on the pink side.

Modifications

Our homemade version keeps the ingredients simple, but this dish can be taken to a new level by adding ingredients like mung beans, glutinous rice balls (without the filling), sweet potato balls, red bean, dried red dates, taro, longan, peach gum and pandan leaves.

How to make this recipe

Smash the ginger using the flat side of a meat mallet or a large flat knife like a cleaver.

Sweet potatoes being cut by a cleaver on a wooden board.

Peel then cut the sweet potatoes into large chunks. You can either slice it down cleanly or wedge the cleaver 1/3 of the way in and break the rest off. By doing the latter technique, you’ll create more texture for every bite.

Sweet potato chunks and ginger in a pot of water.

Bring the water to a boil and add the sweet potatoes and ginger. Let it simmer for 10 minutes on medium heat.

Brown sugar slabs, ginger and sweet potatoes in a pot of water.

Add the brown sugar slabs in and let it cook for another 5 minutes or until the ingredients have softened to preference.

Enjoy hot as is or refrigerate to have it cold!

Recipe FAQs

What’s the best substitute for brown sugar slabs?

I would suggest going for another rich sugar like palm or dark brown sugar. This also adds a slight caramel color to the dish.

Can I make this savory?

You sure can! Just replace the water with a stock and season using ingredients such as chicken bouillon powder and salt.

Tips for the best results

Avoid overcooking the ingredients. You’ll end up with overly soft potatoes that have no bite.
Using the ‘cut and break’ technique. This will add texture to each piece for a better mouthfeel.
Opt for old ginger. Young versions just don’t have the same kick and can make the dish sweeter than it needs to be.
Char the aromatics. Before you add water to the pot, gently char the ginger to develop deeper flavors.

Sweet Potato and Ginger Dessert Soup in a pot with a spoon.

What to serve it with

You want humble flavors to complement this simple dessert, so these dishes would work fabulously:

To start, go for some Steamed Oysters to get your appetite going.
For a main, Crispy Egg Noodles with Seafood (海鲜炒面) or Rice Cooker Chicken and Mushroom Rice would work nicely.
Pair it up with side dishes including Braised Chicken (金針雞), Steamed Pork Belly with Salted Radish and Black Pepper Beef Stir Fry (黑椒牛柳).
Stir fried Water Spinach with Fermented Bean Curd (炒腐乳空心菜) or Pea Shoots with Garlic will add some delicious greens to your meal.
Before finishing off with dessert, wrap the savory dishes up with Grandma’s Lotus Root Soup (蓮藕汤)!

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