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pandan jelly cubes sit atop coconut cream infused ice as the top layer of che ba.
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5 from 1 vote

Chè Ba Màu | Cold Three-Color Vietnamese Dessert

Ice cream? Nah, BEAN there, MUNG that. Your whole team’s gonna be JELLY about this ice-cold Vietnamese action.
Prep Time7 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Pandan setting up12 minutes
Total Time42 minutes
Course: desserts
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 439kcal
Author: Adam Sobel
Cost: $6.50

Equipment

Ingredients

Mung bean layer

  • ½ cup mung beans (split and hulled, yellow moong dal)
  • 1 ¼ cup water

Red bean layer

  • 15 oz. adzuki beans (canned) or red kidney beans, or black beans, drained and rinsed

Pandan jelly

Syrup

  • ½ sugar
  • ½ cup water

Sweetened coconut cream

Ice

  • 3 cups shaved ice

Instructions

Prep:

  • Rinse the split, hulled mung beans under cold water.
  • Soak the mung beans for a minimum of 2 hours, or overnight.
  • Drain the mung beans and rinse them in a wire mesh strainer or colander.
  • In a saucepan, add the rinsed mung beans and cover with the water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Place a lid on the pot and lower the flame cook until the beans are soft, most water has evaporated or been absorbed and easily mashed. You can either leave them whole, or mash them with a potato masher if you prefer that consistency.
  • In a saucepan, add water, pandan leaves, salt, agar agar, and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes to infuse the pandan flavor into the water, while occasionally whisking.
  • Pour the mixture into a shallow glass dish or mold. Refrigerate for one hour until set.
  • Once set, cut the pandan jelly into thin strips and small cubes and set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water for the syrup.
  • Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  • Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  • In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the coconut cream and sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the coconut cream is smooth. Set aside to cool.

Assembly:

  • In serving glasses or bowls, layer the shaved ice, starting with a generous amount at the bottom.
  • Add a spoonful of the mung bean layer on the shaved ice.
  • Layer with the red bean paste, distributing it evenly.
  • Add a generous handful of pandan jelly cubes and strips on top.
  • Place another large scoop of crushed ice over the pandan layer.
  • Drizzle the syrup over the layers.
  • Finish with a generous dollop of sweetened coconut cream on the top.
  • Repeat the layering process for additional servings.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing Chè Ba Màu!

Notes

Feel free to adjust the ingredient quantities and layering order to suit your taste preferences. You can also add additional toppings such as crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, or fruit if desired.
  • Soaking the mung beans for longer than two hours helps to soften them more, reducing the cooking time.
  • Keep an eye on the mung beans while simmering to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  • Adjust the thickness of the pandan jelly by cutting it into different shapes and sizes according to your preference. You can use tiny heart or star-shaped cutters or a small Mellon baller for different funky shapes.
  • To make the pandan jelly easier to handle, lightly oil the knife or scissors before cutting.
  • Ensure the syrup has completely cooled before drizzling it over the layers to prevent the ice from melting quickly.
  • Serve the Chè Ba Màu immediately after assembly to maintain the perfect balance of textures and flavors.

Nutrition

Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 682mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 4mg