Japanese Zenzai Recipe (Sweet Red Bean Soup) | Veggiekins Blog (2024)

FAQs

What does Zenzai mean in Japanese? ›

In Western Japan, zenzai refers to a type of shiruko made from a mixture of paste and crushed beans. In Okinawa, the term zenzai commonly refers to this bean soup served over shaved ice with mochi. Other toppings, such as sweetened condensed milk, are occasionally added for flavor.

Zenzai (ぜんざい, 善哉) is basically a soup made from boiling azuki beans with sugar and salt. You might have heard of a different name for this dessert. Oshiruko(お汁粉) or Shiruko is used in the east of Japan where boiled azuki beans are crushed into a smoother paste and become more watery soup than Zenzai.

Red bean soup signifies strength and tang yuan is often eaten as its round shape symbolises togetherness and reunion. This is an easy recipe you can try at home. All you need are 4 ingredients for a delicious, warming dessert.

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).

Zenzai originated in Izumo and is now eaten all over Japan. It is said that people used offer Zenzai to Kami (deities) when they gathered in Izumo. The origin of Izumo Zenzai comes form Jinzai 神在 which means deity exist.

The red color of the rice symbolizes happiness and prosperity. It's a traditional dish served on many happy and celebratory occasions, such as New Year, the birth of baby, birthdays, festivals, and weddings. Traditionally Sekihan is made of 100% glutinous rice (you might also call it sweet rice or mochigome).

Zenzai is a traditional Japanese dessert soup with a slightly sweet taste made with azuki beans, mochi, or glutinous rice cake. If you've never had azuki or sweet red beans before, the idea of beans in a dessert might sound a little strange, but it's a very common item to see in Asian desserts.

What is the difference between Adzuki Beans and Red Beans? There is actually no distinction between adzuki beans and red beans since adzuki beans are also referred to as red beans due to their red colour. Very rarely are kidney beans are referred to as red beans. However, these are bigger in size than adzuki beans.

Adzuki beans are rich in fiber, protein and beneficial compounds which may reduce hunger, increase fullness and help you lose weight in the long-term.

The fiber in red beans will help regulate cholesterol in the blood. body at the right level. In addition, the potassium in red beans also helps to dilate blood vessels, thereby increasing blood circulation - helping to reduce blood pressure and pressure on the heart wall.

Can I eat red bean soup every day? ›

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.

According to Chinese medicine, red bean broth has the benefit of cooling the body during the hot summer and keeping a person energized.

Azuki beans are small, reddish-brown beans that have been important in Asian cooking for a long time. 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.

One of the basic ingredients of traditional Japanese sweets is often one of the most surprising tastes for our western tastebuds... Azuki are actually a variety of red bean. They are not naturally sweet but are almost exclusively used in baking as anko, an azuki paste cooked and sweetened with sugar.

Anko is a sweet red bean paste that's used to hold together pastries, cakes, and other desserts that come from Japan. Store cooled anko in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Order the Pumpkin Zenzai: pumpkin sauce over sweet azuki red beans & vanilla ice cream, topped with some shiratama (little white mochi balls). Some other Japanese restaurants serve this well, but the Hachi version is simply out of this world!

This delicious and authentic Japanese zenzai recipe is made with homemade adzuki beans and topped with sweet and chewy mochi. Naturally vegan and gluten-free, this dish is cozy and comforting and perfect for a celebration or a simple sweet treat.

Learn to make authentic Azuki Red Bean Ice Cream just like what you'd find in Japan! It's the perfect treat for a hot day and only takes 3 ingredients to make. Red bean, also known as Azuki (小豆), is by far the most popular flavor in traditional Japanese sweets.

One of the most significant vehicles for mochi, though, is on New Year's Day, in a soup called ozoni, which translates roughly to “miscellaneous simmered.” As the name implies, there's flexibility in how one prepares it.