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Korean Sweet Rice Punch (Sikhye 식혜)

Sikhye is a classic Korean dessert drink that is made from malt barley. I LOVE the unique sweet taste of sikhye and the soft, melt in your mouth rice that comes floating in the drink.

Prep Time
8 hrs
Cook Time
mins
Total Time
8 hrs
Servings: 10 cups
Calories: 204 kcal
Course: Dessert , Drinks
Cuisine: Korean

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cup yeotkireum (or milled malt barley)
  • 10 cup water
  • 1 cup short grain rice
  • 3/4 cup sugar (up to 1 cup)
Optional Garnishes
  • 1 tsp pine nuts (optional)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Soak the crushed 2 1/2 cup yeotkireum in 10 cup water for 1 hour. While soaking, massage the malt barley with your hand 2-3 times so that all the good stuff gets loose from the husk.
  2. Strain malt barley water, making sure you squeeze out all the good stuff by hand in the strainer before throwing it away.
  3. Rest the strained malt water for 2~3 hrs and you will see white sediments accumulate at the bottom of the bowl.*For a clearer sikhye, let it rest 4~5 hrs.
  4. In the mean time, cook 1 cup short grain rice. When cooking rice, use less water to produce a drier rice. The rice granules should easily separate when cooked and not stick together.
  5. Add the top liquid part of the malt barley water to the rice cooker with the cooked rice already in it. Leave the white sediments in the bowl as much as possible.* You do not need to pour all the liquid into the rice cooker. It just needs to fully cover your rice. Keep any remaining liquid in the bowl and let it rest until the step 8
  6. Keep the rice + malt barley liquid mixture warm ( use the ‘keep warm’ option) in the rice cooker for around 5 hrs or more until about 4~5 rice granules rise to the top
IF (you want the rice to float when served)
    Cup of Yum
  1. THEN strain rice from liquid and rinse under running cold water and drain. Store in the fridge. Also be sure to use full 1 cup sugar later to make the rice float. 
IF (all you care about is the taste) THEN leave rice with the liquid
  1. Pour liquid (and the rice, if you chose the taste option) into a large pot and any remaining liquid from step 5, again making sure white sediments are not added. Add 3/4 cup sugar. Use more sugar up to 1 cup, if you like sweet desserts and also if you want the rice to float. Otherwise, start with 3/4 cup.
Boil on medium heat for 10 minutes.
  1. Skim off any foam while it’s boiling.Taste the sweetness and adjust sugar to taste. Also remember that the drink will taste less sweet when served cold.
  2. Serve the Sikhye in a cup and float the rice. Finish by adding a few 1 tsp pine nuts. They should stay afloat together with the rice.

Nutrition Information

Calories 204kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 33g (11%) Protein 4g (8%) Sodium 15mg (1%) Potassium 15mg (0%) Sugar 14g (28%) Calcium 8mg (1%) Iron 0.8mg (4%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 204

% Daily Value*

Calories 204kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 33g 11%
Protein 4g 8%
Sodium 15mg 1%
Potassium 15mg 0%
Sugar 14g 28%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 0.8mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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