1 cup Chinese red beans
Water to cover
1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar
4 to 6 tablespoons peanut oil
1. Wash red beans. Place in a saucepan with cold water and bring to a boil. Then simmer, covered, until beans are soft (about 1 hour). Let cool slightly.
2. Strain beans through cheesecloth or force through a ricer. (Discard skins.) Combine beans with sugar and peanut oil.
3. Oil a pan lightly and heat. Add bean mixture and stir over low heat for 5 minutes. (The heat must be very low and the stirring constant to prevent scorching.)
NOTE: This mixture (used in Eight Precious Rice) may be made in advance and frozen.
VARIATIONS:
* For the white sugar, substitute brown sugar.
* Omit step 3. Beat mixture with an electric beater until thick and pudding-like.