Adzuki Beans
Also indexed as: Azuki Beans
The adzuki bean holds a place in ceremonial dishes in both Japan and
China.
The adzuki bean, sometimes spelled azuki or aduki, is a versatile bean well-loved in
Japanese cooking. It holds a place in ceremonial dishes of both Japan and China, where the
beans are used to make traditional dumplings at the New Year and for other festive occasions.
Adzuki beans are quite small and are usually a deep red color with a sliver of white at the
inseam.
Varieties
Adzuki beans belong to the Phaseolus species and are generally categorized in the
“red bean” family, although they are less common in the United States than other
red beans such as the kidney bean and the small
red bean.
Buying and storing tips
Store dried adzuki beans in an airtight container or jar. Look for shiny beans that are
richly colored reddish-brown or brownish-purple.
Availability
Adzuki beans are available year-round, dried or canned. They can be found primarily in
natural food stores and Asian markets.
Preparation, uses, and tips
Adzuki beans are easy to digest, and although they have a distinctive flavor, they taste
less “beany” than many other beans. The preferred cooking method is to soak them
in cold water for two to three hours and then simmer them on top of the stove for about an
hour and a half. They also cook well in a crockpot or pressure cooker. In Japanese cooking,
they are used in desserts in the form of a sweetened paste called an, koshi-an, or
tsubushi-an. When adzukis are prepared with
rice, the rice takes on a beautiful reddish-purple tint from the beans.
Nutritional Highlights
Adzuki beans, 1 cup (230g) (cooked, boiled)
Calories: 294
Protein: 17.3g
Carbohydrate: 57g
Total Fat: 0.23g
Fiber: 16.8g
*Excellent source of: Iron (4.6mg), Magnesium (119.6mg), Potassium
(1,223mg), Zinc (4.0mg), and
Folate (278mcg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular
nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good
source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily
Value.
The information presented in this website is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.
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