Aduki Beans

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I admit I have had mine for awhile and haven't tried them yet. They are really cute though.

I have been interested in the Japanese desserts made with them. Today I got another very cheap cookbook from the op-shop. It was a bean book and had a couple of desserts with aduki beans. I hope to post one or two soon.

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Bean and Apple Crumble

"Here's a new and different version of the traditional Apple Betty (the book is not new that I got this recipe from), equally as delicious as the original but a bit more nutritious with the addition of beans.

1/2 cup dried adzuki beans 125ml
1lb cooking apples 500g
1/2-1 tsp cinnamon 2-5ml
honey to taste
water, if necessary
3/4 cup quick rolled oats 200ml
1/2 cup oat-flake cereal 125ml
1/4 cup whole wheat flour 50ml
1/2 cup shredded coconut 125ml
3 tablespoons salad oil 50ml

Note: You could use 2 cups (500ml) applesauce in place of the cooking apples.

Soak beans. To the drained beans, add double the amount of water and simmer, covered, until beans are tender. Drain well and mash.

Peel apples, cut in quarters, and cook in a small amount of water until soft. Mix with the mashed beans. Season apple/bean mixture with cinnamon and sweeten with as much honey as needed. Add water if the mixture is too dry. It should be the consistency of thick applesauce. Grease an 8 by 8 inch (20 x 20cm) pan or large casserole dish. Place the apple/bean mixture into bottom of the pan.

Mix rolled oats, cereal, flour, coconut, and salad oil together. Spread evenly on a greased cookie sheet or baking sheet. Place in a 350oF (180oC) oven for 3 to 4 mintues, just until the crumble is a light brown. Stir occasionally and keep a sharp eye on it so that it doesn't get overdone.

Remove from oven, sprinkle over the apple/bean mixture, and bake at 350oF (180oC) 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crisp. If the crisp is getting too brown, cover lightly with foil, baking just long enough to heat apple layer through.

This crumble is delicious served hot or cold with pouring cream, whipped cream, or ice cream. Makes 5 or 6 generous servings.

From: Jean's Beans by Jean Hoare.

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Bean & Sweetcorn shells

Now this really will make a mess – if your child won’t eat lettuce, and many of them won’t, try using it as a little parcel to wrap this yummy bean mix. Children, like adults, need fibre - and beans or legumes (with the exception of good old baked beans) are oft-forgotten treasures from the earth.

Aduki beans are sweet tasting beans and a good starting point into the world of legumes. Make a very simple casserole of beans, sweet corn and tomato sauce and serve small spoonfuls in lettuce cups. It’s quite fun and, fingers crossed, your child like many others, will love it.

½ cup Aduki Beans (soaked overnight in 2 cups of water)
1 cup Tomato sauce
1 sweet corn cob kernels removed
1 finely diced carrot

Drain the soaked beans and return them to the pan with a fresh 2 cups of water.

From: www.nickjr.com.au/site/item.asp?pageID=3§ionID=19&subSectionID=-1&itemID=574

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Still haven't tried them.

www.ripeorganics.com.au/recipes/main-meals/adzuki-turnip-and-carrot-braise