Azuki bean dessert soup

Lately I've been getting into dessert soups, which are common in Asian cooking. It's a great way to be healthy while satisfying your sweet tooth at the end of a meal. This soup is like zenzai, a Japanese azuki bean soup, except it has some Chinese and S.E. Asian influences as well with the dates/tangerine/coconut milk. You can easily add sticky rice or sticky rice balls to it for added texture contrast. You can also make this with mung beans.

Ingredients

1 cup raw azuki beans, soaked overnight

4-5 cups water

4 honey dates

2 pieces tangerine peel

handful of sliced almonds

1/3 cup coconut milk

sugar or honey to taste (optional)

Soak azuki beans overnight in water, then in a large pot combine beans, water, dates, tangerine peel, almonds and coconut milk. Simmer on low for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally and add more water if needed. Turn off the heat and add sugar or honey to taste (optional).