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Eat more beans, they say.
These small, but mighty, legumes are packed with boatloads of fiber, protein, and antioxidants.
Another highly popular choice?
Red beans, otherwise known as azuki (or adzuki) beans.
Whats the significance of red beans in Japanese culture?
Azuki beans are said to have been introduced from China around the third century, 300 B.C.
recipe developer and founder of Just One Cookbook
(Read: Red beans have been around for averylong time.)
As such, azuki beans were used in place of meat in many instances.
Nowadays, you might find azuki beans in many different Japanese dishes.
These traditional sweets called wagashi are mostly filled with or accompanied by sweet azuki bean paste calledankoor an.
What is sekihan (Japanese red bean rice)?
Its true: Youll typically find red beans in Japanese sweets for the most part.
However, Chen notes that sekihan is one exception.
In Japan, we make red bean rice called sekihanor osekihanon auspicious occasions, she says.
The red color of the rice symbolizes happiness and prosperity.
recipe developer and founder of Just One Cookbook
To make this simple dish, you only need two ingredients: Rice and red beans.
And although the ingredient list sounds simple, the process of making the dish is slightly more complex.
Remember that long-grain and short-grain varieties have different flavors, textures, and shapes when cooked, she says.
Fortunately, this jot down of rice is also widely available in the United States.
you might find mochigome at Japanese grocery stores, other Asian grocery stores, and some well-stocked supermarkets.
I usually get local, California-grown, organic mochigome at my local Japanese supermarket calledNijiya.
you’re free to also findKoda FarmsandHakubaibrands at online retailers likeAmazonandInstacart, Chen says.
Using a large bowl and not a sieve helps to keep the grains from breaking as you rinse them.
For a step-by-step rinsing rice tutorial, you could check outChens in-depth guide.
With a little patience (and a few rinses later), the cloudy water will eventually run clear.
They have a gentle and rounded bowl shape but with side and bottom drainers.
To prep the rice to soak, you could use any jot down of bowl.
This ensures an even soak for all the rice grains, Chen says.
Therefore, my sekihan recipe does not call for soaking the beans ahead of time, she says.
However, whatdoesmake a difference is how fresh the beans are.
Look for dried azuki beans that are fresh so they will become tender when you cook them.
Old beans wont become tender no matter how long you cook them, Chen says.
Buy azuki beans that are recently packaged and far off from their expiration date, she says.
Japanese grocery stores sell different brands of azuki bean packages, and they are typically all from Hokkaido.
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