One of my favourite summer desserts is ‘Mizu-Yōkan’, Azuki (Red Bean) Kanten Jelly. Kanten is similar to Agar Agar but the texture of the jelly is different. This dessert can be easily made at home. If you used store-bought canned Sweet Azuki Paste, it would be easier. ‘Koshi-an’, the smooth type paste is commonly used …
I sometimes crave for Japanese sweets, which I know I can’t purchase from any shops near my home. Therefore I have to make them if I want to eat them. These ‘Kintsuba’ Azuki Cakes are easy to make. Set ‘Tsubu-an’ (Sweet Azuki Paste) with Kanten, and coat the surfaces with batter. It’s easy enough to …
I love this ‘Mixed Grains’. It’s mostly Medium Grain Brown Rice, which is mixed with Wild Rice, Barley and Quinoa. You can make your own mix by adding whatever grains you love. Even a small type of beans such as Azuki can be added. However you must be aware of the cooking time of the …
This dish is traditionally prepared to celebrate special occasions in Japan, because of its red colour which is symbolic of happiness. The dish is called ‘Sekihan’ (Red Rice) in Japan and it is steamed ‘Mochi-gome’ (Short Grain Glutinous Rice) with ‘Sasage Beans’ that are very similar Azuki Beans. These days more people conveniently cook it …
‘An Pan’ is a Japanese sweet bread roll filled with ‘Azuki’ Red Bean Paste. ‘An (sweet paste filling) + Pan (bread)’ can be made with other fillings but the most popular filling is ‘Azuki’ Red Bean Paste. Japan has a children’s super hero named ‘Anpan-man’ who’s head made of ‘An Pan’. The ‘Anpan-man’ stories are …
‘Taiyaki’ is Fish-shaped pancake with yummy filling inside. The most common filling is ‘Tsubu-an’, the sweet ‘Azuki’ red bean paste. Other recommended fillings are custard, chocolate, fruit jam, or Nutella. Savoury filling would be nice as well. Be creative and enjoy making your own ‘Taiyaki’. Taiyaki pans are available from many online retailers. I bought …
My favourite type of Dango is ‘Kusa Dango’ and they are very green because the dough is made from Rice flour and young leaves of ‘Yomogi’ plant. ‘Yomogi’ used to be growing absolutely everywhere in Japan and my mother and I used to have a walk to collect ‘Yomogi’ leaves when we made ‘Kusa Dango’. …
Do you know Doraemon, the Gadget Cat Robot from the Future? Doraemon is a character from Japanese classic comic series. He loves Dorayaki. Dorayaki is a simple sweet. Two small pancake-like sponge wrapped a filling of sweet Azuki red bean paste. It is easy to make at home. Makes 6 to 8 Ingredients Self-Raising Flour …
I love Mochi Sweet like Daifuku, which is small round mochi stuffed with sweet red bean paste. But where I live, it is too hard to find. The only way I can eat them is making them by myself. Then I came up an idea to make them absolutely easily. Makes 6 Servings Ingredients Rice …
This recipe doesn’t require yeast. My mother used to make these ‘Anman’ (Steamed Azuki Buns) quite often, and my sisters and I loved them always. This is her quick and easy recipe. Makes 8 Buns Ingredients 8 heaped-tablespoonfuls Tsubu-an OR Koshi-an Pastry1 & 1/2 cups Self-Raising Flour2 tablespoons Sugar1 pinch Salt1 large Egg1 tablespoon Vegetable …
Matcha has become very trendy in Australia. For cakes, cookies, teas, latte drinks and ice creams, I can see Matcha foods everywhere. Only recently I started enjoying Matcha flavour after disliking it for many years. To make this cake, I simply added Matcha powder to my sponge cake recipe and it worked. You can use …
This is an absolutely super easy yet so delicious recipe. You only need two ingredients, Tsubu-an (Sweet Azuki Paste) and Cream. If you want to make it lighter, see ‘Azuki Milk Ice’. Makes 2 Servings Ingredients 1/2 cup Tsubu-an (Sweet Azuki Paste) *add more if you like1/2 cup Thickened Cream Method Whisk Thickened Cream in a …