Our Taste of Home: Red Bean Paste

by Elise Dunn

Growing up, red bean was one of my favorite flavors. From soft mochi fillings to warm dessert soups, it has always been a sweet reminder of my childhood. After every large family dinner, I would eagerly wait for dessert to be served, since it was always the best way to end a night filled with conversation, laughter, and togetherness.

There are many ways to enjoy red beans in a variety of desserts and dishes. However, I’d like to share a simple method for preparing them, because all it takes is a pinch of creativity to adapt this recipe to your heart’s desire.


What is Red Bean?

Red bean paste is made from an adzuki bean (also spelled azuki, sometimes called red mung beans), not to be confused with the generic “red beans” or kidney beans you might find at the grocery store. Like most legumes, they are rich in antioxidants and are a good source of fiber, protein, and essential minerals. One time, I thought I had bought adzuki beans to make the paste, but they turned out to be regular red beans instead.


What Does Red Bean Taste Like?

I like to describe red bean paste as sweetened refried beans. Instead of salt, add sugar! For those who don’t like beans, this one might not be for you (because, wow, the red bean really tastes like a bean). I’ve found that the more sugar you add, the milder the bean flavor becomes. Compared to brown beans, it has a deeper flavor, with subtle sweet and nutty notes.

What Desserts Can You Make?

Here is a list of some of my favorite red bean dishes:

  • Just the beans (can put them in shaved ice)

  • Chunky beans for drinks

  • Less chunky beans for drinks 

  • Blended beans for drinks (less sugar needed is the difference)

  • Red bean soup

  • Red bean mochi

  • Pancakes and red bean

  • Fried sesame balls with red bean

  • Red bean ice cream

  • Red bean jelly

  • Red bean cookies

Cook time: 1 hour

Appliances: pressure cooker, stovetop pot

INGREDIENTS

  • 1½ cups of azuki beans

  • 5 cups water

  • 1¼ cups sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Wash the azuki beans, removing any loose skins that fall off.

  2. Add the washed beans to a pressure cooker with 5 cups of water.

  3. Select the “Bean” setting and cook for 30 minutes.

    1. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can boil the beans in a pot on the stove until tender.

  4. Once the beans are cooked, strain them to remove all the excess water.

  5. Add the beans back to the pot and click the “Saute” setting.

  6. Stir and mash the beans, stirring continuously to prevent burning.

  7. Add your desired amount of sugar as the beans cook. It should begin to form a thick paste-like consistency.

  8. If you would like a smooth paste, transfer to a food processor or blender.

  9. Serve and enjoy!

Watch to find out how to make red bean paste!

Food Roots