Anko Recipe - Japanese Sweet Red Bean Paste (2024)

FAQs

What is Japanese sweet with anko? ›

It is the most basic and favorable filling in traditional Japanese confectionery and pastry. Whether it's Daif*cku Mochi, Dango, Dorayaki, Taiyaki, Manju, or Anpan, they are filled with Anko and bursting with the deep, sweet flavor of red beans. So let's learn how to make Anko red bean paste today!

Anko, or red bean paste, is used in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean desserts. It's made by boiling azuki beans/adzuki beans with sugar and a pinch of salt. The Japanese use the sweetened paste in many traditional Japanese sweets, such as Daif*cku Mochi, Dango, Dorayaki, Taiyaki, Manju, Zenzai, and Anpan.

Etymology. In Japanese, a number of names are used to refer to red bean paste; these include an (餡), anko (餡子) and ogura (小倉).

Red bean paste often has a high sugar content, which is not overly healthy. However, the beans themselves are a fantastic source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, which are good for the body. If eaten in moderation, dishes and sweets containing red bean paste can be a part of a healthy balanced diet.

There are two types of anko: Tsubu-an, which is made by cooking adzuki beans so as not to crush the grains, and koshi-an, which is cooked adzuki paste with the outer skin removed. Besides "wagashi", it is also used as an ingredient of the popular Japanese bread "Anpan" (sweet bread with anko inside of it).

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).

And for time-consuming bread projects, red bean paste nestles nicely inside of sweet buns. Plus, it undoubtedly pairs well with the usual suspects—king matcha, queen black sesame—when it comes to flavoring towers of shaved ice covered in condensed milk or swirly Swiss roll cakes.

Sweet bean paste is a food ingredient used throughout East Asian cuisine, primarily as a filling for sweet desserts and pastries.

Adzuki beans are rich in nutrients, such as fiber, protein and manganese. They are linked to several health benefits, including weight loss, improved digestion and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. You can make them into a red bean paste, sprout them or simply boil them.

Anko was the name used for several stores in the U.S. city of Seattle and an online store operated by Kmart from October 2018 to mid-2020 which sold Anko-branded products.

What was special about Anko? ›

Anko has incredible aim, able to make a perfect Konoha symbol out of dango sticks without even looking. She has excellent tracking skills, evidenced by her being placed in charge of a team tasked with finding Kabuto Yakushi.

Anko has a thick, mushy texture and can be used as a spread just like jam. The taste is quite sweet but not like your typical cookie or cake. It's more complex because the nutty flavor of adzuki beans is so powerful it gives the paste an earthy taste on top of the sweetness.

Supports control of diabetes, blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases Animal studies also show that the protein contained in red beans has the ability to inhibits α-glucosidas in the intestinal tract. α-glucosidas is an enzyme responsible for breaking down complex carbohydrates such as starch and glycogen.

Side Effects Of Adzuki Beans:

However, owing to their high fibre content, ingesting high amounts of adzuki beans presents with problems of excessive gas and flatulence, as well as health issues in the digestive tract, liver and kidneys owing to surplus fibre and protein intake.

Dorayaki is a favorite traditional Japanese sweet for people of all ages in Japan, from small children to the elderly, and it's even the prefered snack of the beloved animated character Doraemon. This dessert consists of two small pancakes filled with sweet azuki red bean paste.

Anko has a thick, mushy texture and can be used as a spread just like jam. The taste is quite sweet but not like your typical cookie or cake. It's more complex because the nutty flavor of adzuki beans is so powerful it gives the paste an earthy taste on top of the sweetness.

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. By Allrecipes Member. Updated on April 18, 2023.