Chunky red bean paste

Here is recipe that uses red azuki beans. The chunky red bean paste can be used as a filling for buns or pastries, used in pancakes, or made into sweet desserts. I like to spread a little bit of the paste on toast and snack away.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried red beans
• 1/4 cup sugar, adjust to taste

This makes a little more than 1 cup.

First, prepare and cook the dried beans
Soak the dried beans overnight in the fridge. When ready to cook, drain and rinse the beans. In a small pot, add beans and enough water to cover the beans by an inch or so. Put over high heat and bring to boil. Let it boil for a while then remove from heat. Drain, discard water, and rinse the beans. The beans should be in a parboiled kind of state.

Directions

1. In a pot, add the parboiled beans and 2 cups of water.
2. Bring beans to a boil over high heat.
3. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to a medium heat.
4. Put a cover on the pot and let it simmer for an hour.
5. If you notice any foam over the beans, remove it by scooping it out with a spoon. The water should be almost completely absorbed by the time the beans are done.
6. Add the sugar, stirring gently until the bean paste is heated through and glossy.
7. Remove from heat and let it cool.
8. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

The paste will keep for about a week. Enjoy!