Authentic Japanese Red Bean Soup recipe (Oshiruko/Zenzai) (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between oshiruko and zenzai? ›

It should also be noted that oshiruko and zenzai are different in the Kanto and Kansai regions. In Kansai, zenzai is made with soupy and chunky adzuki paste. Oshiruko is a soupy mixture of smooth adzuki paste. In Kanto, on the other hand, if it is soupy, it is called oshiruko.

Zenzai (ぜんざい, 善哉) is a traditional Japanese dessert soup made with sweet red bean paste called anko (餡子), sugar, and salt. You might have heard of a different name—Oshiruko (お汁粉) or Shiruko—for this same or similar dessert. Let's talk about that first.

Oshiruko (also sometimes known as Zenzai), is a traditional Japanese dessert soup made with sweet azuki beans and mochi (rice cake). It's warm, slightly sweet, earthy, and the chewy mochi adds extra texture. While it's a wintertime dessert, many people enjoy eating it year round!

Absolutely, bean soup can be a fantastic addition to your daily diet, but like everything, it should be consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. Rich in Fiber: Beans are a stellar source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

In English the beans are often described as "red beans" in the context of Chinese cuisine, such as with red bean paste. In Korean, adzuki beans are called pat (팥) and it contrasts with kong (콩, "bean"), rather than being considered a type of it. Kong ("beans") without qualifiers usually means soybeans.

Adzuki beans are incredibly nutritious.

She noted that it's low in fat, naturally gluten-free and includes 7.5 grams of protein and 7.3 grams of fiber in a 3.5-ounce serving size. For reference, black beans have slightly more protein (8.8 ounces) and fiber (8.6 ounces) in the same size serving.

Red or Adzuki beans are high in dietary fiber that helps to improve digestive health, while increasing the absorption of healthy nutrients at the same time. Regular consumption of dietary fiber helps to mitigate bowel problems such as constipation and diarrhoea, while reducing the risk of colon cancer.

Adzuki beans are also written as aduki beans, or red beans. The anko paste is then used in various confectioneries like "yokan" (a jellied dessert made from anko paste, agar, and sugar), "daif*cku" (rice cake stuffed with anko paste), and "dorayaki" (dessert sandwich made from two pancakes and anko paste).

They come from East Asia and are prevalent in places like Japan, China, and Korea. People like azuki beans because they taste sweet and nutty, and you can use them in sweet and savory foods. They're often used in desserts like red bean paste for cakes and soups.

Support for strengthening the immune system High levels of antioxidants in red beans have the effect of fighting disease and promoting health. Researchers have identified at least 29 different antioxidant compounds contained in red beans, including bioflavonoids with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Is red bean high in sugar? ›

Beans are a low-glycemic index food, so they don't cause spikes in blood sugar when you eat them. They can also help moderate the effects of foods that do cause spikes in blood sugar.

Answer. It would depend on the kidney problems you are having. If you need to avoid foods high in phosphorus, then wax beans, peas and green beans would be the safest to eat. If you are having problems with kidney stones, then all legumes would be beneficial.

Oshiruko, or zenzai, is a traditional Japanese dessert soup made with sweet azuki beans and mochi (rice cake). Many people enjoy this wintertime treat, featuring warm, slightly sweet, and earthy flavors. Vending machines offer oshiruko as a sweet red bean drink.

Japanese starter course of small dishes, relishes, hors d'oeuvres, smorgasbord, tapas.

But "anko", a paste made from red beans called "azuki", is a staple in traditional Japanese confectionery, and has been enjoyed by Japanese people for centuries. The taste can be enjoyed alone, or as a complement to other Japanese flavors such as matcha (roasted green tea) or mochi (sticky rice cake).

The store's signature dish is "Okinawa Zenzai." In Okinawa, Zenzai typically refers to shaved ice placed atop beans sweetened with sugar. Underneath the beautifully shaved triangular ice are plump and tender Azuki beans that have been slowly and meticulously stewed.