Sweet Red Bean Paste
August 25, 2021
Sweet Red Bean Paste (Anko) is super easy to make from scratch, and its better than the store bought.
![Red bean paste recipe Red bean paste](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil22j_SoVwbu86sEu-WTsVehVVijlo0v-eTBaveDiZH1CCv-MdkqpXhkKQi254_oRtHUqsufOvWABBTCAGM1HmfIOvl7DeaRXA5ebNdLiGwlxcQEX5IVAY311TqNwLvAWbeI4cjDb-Bj8/s16000-rw/Recipe-red-bean-paste.jpg)
The red beans or adzuki beans is one of the most important ingredients in Asian cooking.
What is red beans used for?
As red beans have naturally sweet flavour, we tend to make them as dessert.To name a few, we use red bean in our steam buns known as bao (or pau).
Or we cooked these red beans in sugar with mandarin peels added and enjoy as sweet red bean soup.
My favourite childhood dessert is to have soft cooked red beans in shaved iced with syrup. (which reminds me, I need to update this post!!)
I used red beans for blind baking. It is definitely cheaper than using pie weight.
![sweet red bean paste recipe sweet red bean paste](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ypKhyphenhyphenLaS20m65fHaBAfwAUgGYsPp4ZdRAeWSAYjQJTTOrvQx6HgDPgmWjHpzc-GCMN2zhLMAey89T0wxa_zeOonh5piuHMhpTa7DnNUydt3FdX6YkCepMZ5zgybqwncNNmZxmi9fcc/s16000-rw/Red-Bean-paste.jpg)
Red beans and red kidney beans, are they the same?
Do not mistaken red beans to red kidney beans. These two are not the same.Red kidney beans is bigger in size compare to red beans.
Red kidney beans has darker red colour almost crimson.
While red beans are smaller in size and brighter red.
How to make red bean paste?
Printable recipe, ingredients list and method is in the recipe card below.![dry azuki beans dry red beans](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaA8x0EawC9EIZCDQrXBWD9Af7Jq0MizZ46wDv9OdoIgupNDwDRYhJnFmb9gUBvErgpcxOQWUX05RumA8tXtCvkZvQD0fw6T771TOQASn5_4QlVbI8JGx44q8e_0encQRsr0BnqEwbh6Q/w640-h428-rw/Japanese-red-beans.jpg)
1. Dry red beans
![soak azuki beans Soak red beans](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqGfWS8CEMvwdm4GWrGFqSCKTAn-lBFqYaUUAJuVfGHcyrbzL-LkU14zvN6TpOX4TR2SIgzdRc7f5fHzsi0CUVmcgmEXMf1W1tMBJQt2Lb_cPkQ9peYBDRpSuQoTsT64qtUp1VVIZxfw/w640-h428-rw/wash-and-soak-red-beans.jpg)
2. Rinse and wash thrice
![soaking azuki beans soaking red beans](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKoaf0KUNYpqacnD1wd4EiJCiZU0akRKt5wuhm-huGvs1Z902SapHO4z3yO0x86eB-HvCu4h3Cs7RhljkC0aEd08cnUDYAuDys9oT5iv8rcRsJwPaohglot0tG7HP_itGmw19UjTLjJ0/w640-h428-rw/soak-red-beans.jpg)
3. Soak for at least 4 hours
I usually soak overnight.
![strain off water azuki beans strain off water red beans](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSN0A8mqsQsoofOIztO6sRSL8eTnGv05XSXfaIuK0pAy18Rimm-Ysh9bI4T_9XstBL0jMS-rFrz6jFDMKn8-3zHPfwzgZ6koZnB5DQS1E9A78VepBbx_2IKxhp5LE_s93y6MJDjOnjDo/w640-h428-rw/drain-off-water-.jpg)
4. Drain off water.
![Cook azuki beans in Instant Pot Cook red beans in Instant Pot](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMv-iclSeG5cExZpbxAMqo2JvjNN3LLghRCptVaeqOdFMyr5WSmfbX_dt15X0EIeD2-1o9QL85S33mJtG0tOZ146PvR2L9zQswqnolpcDNpZfVGA4L-aR10qRl8zlAVfSmNAeTPYZtHU/w640-h428-rw/cook-red-bean-in-instant-pot.jpg)
5. Place soaked red beans in an Instant Pot.
Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.
Switch off Instant Pot and Natural release for 15 minutes.
![Cookedazuki beans Cooked red beans](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQwHEfrWQQM5rp7Go7uK3hgsI_9eTEEM7Dwn8F7a1-4QnPiXpiUlKBUFC7UlHbnxOao2b4XOllRY8cuGG-TRjl-GswyU_I5rbG4-mow3FrlWpVqRXzGpHjhMg-xHOuQW6kWSgCFvCQFw/w640-h428-rw/strain-water-off-cooked-red-bean.jpg)
6. Strain water (reserve some)
This is known as Tsubu-an or chunky red bean. Add sugar to the reserved strained water and make red bean porridge or soup, add some mandarin peel.
Point to note : I forgot to push these cooked red bean through a sieve just like when I did for Shiro-an, in my previous post. My bad!!
It will less time consuming when turning these red beans into paste.
or blend as per photo below.
![Blend azuki beans Blend red beans](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkUap4VOUFDJiW33khyphenhyphenGhGhxaCf5mudCSLFNSTIjk9zHPfx8XWvg0c8NaN3OzzyeGksWPsk9_ySjIl7qRKEzn1hOzy-4tvMy5t1P5bR1KRLOSCpktKbceATDggAnI95V1qND8pSPDBPY/w640-h428-rw/blend-for-a-smooth-anko.jpg)
7. Use a stick blender and blend till smooth to make anko or smooth red bean paste.
![Add sugar to Blended azuki beans Add sugar to Blended red beans](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2ksp4MAR9jqshyIB9IouWvfevAWrZl02IBNi4JqhGnelAE9D7fZBtA0h1T4VBidUsBq_kMpuxhMaDn-OQb5M637u0_QmMplr3VE0g9YHqegZygRS-NxQD9JyrkGNIB7Gqy04rS9zFqQ/w640-h426-rw/Add-sugar-to-blended-red-bean-.jpg)
8. Transfer blended red bean to a pot.
Add sugar.
![soupy stage azuki beans soupy stage red beans](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiLIbVSic1CuFkcFSDwKHnwHzuPLnas0PTaBa8XbPGb_FLJ7QGXZu852mQ0FjNQ4kXdpklyljm0Uh9BGoxh9kcE-J9-o8abLQYiJlKnCPm73e7LkkjigFVAyKClMyvRBXA6aI3YXB_js/w640-h428-rw/very-liquid-red-bean-paste.jpg)
9. Red bean in its soupy stage.
{See my note 6 above}
![cooking azuki beans in pan cooking red beans in pan](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aOM5knxQTjHNNq2QvUbGPSTLOEEh8jl_T8IckfMMOhjJlqG2Xd-7X56V7IbhdmCTO24L1py3-NTnOtZ2Nt3vF994tANjv9v9tn_2ZwJ73_SCAcEO-Iy22jRvRieO3lf3XZuxW31lmag/w640-h424-rw/Adzuki-bean-paste.jpg)
10. Getting there...
![redbean Adzuki bean paste](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hyphenhyphenZQJBFQKT7TrdBKho9caBV5EoRlASMjCBWF3ieMfhIRmxEHF37Kex8jnY_mqJpTuiCk1HeGF6MzuJLeQok6leaZ9EO0KqZHVRq6OsFRnJkq4Otdzcbtb38ROQCEqcQISiVkk-aAlLQ/w640-h426-rw/Anko.jpg)
![Japanese red bean recipe Japanese red bean](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7PlCX0DyhKu6RhnxVFjW67hlj_DiiIg-vLhsspiMkxS71vUxhL4y5ucYLtJRWzJ92nP4TjWgv0TEgOZgliMcUAV4125eAaRI5gHPbIboqRaeiA7iuZjVOJvHEbCrI8TeRWsRNOf89vk/s16000-rw/Sweet-red-bean-paste.jpg)
12. Finally... red bean paste is ready :)
How to store red bean paste?
Store red bean paste in an air tight container.And keep them refrigerated.
How long can I keep red bean paste?
Once refrigerated, used red bean paste within 7 days.Place any left over red bean paste in a zip lock bag, do not forget to label and date the bag, and place in the freezer.
This should be good for 3 months.
Thaw before use.
![Anko recipe red bean paste recipes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9T3tchdMbNp45slQDw_YthR2jOfeywtxiIaDYSUGukO1BxBKqHvALujcAxN2bSIoObq65Yj7gOzrQn-b56_tn9h5dy3qw2spkOh0fX_nvL3N17Ih9RMxufKVVIqPuOxVoOys7CnEHXI/s16000-rw/Red-Bean-paste-recipe.jpg)
Other recipe using red bean paste.
Steam baoMatcha buns
Mooncakes (can substitute lotus paste with red bean paste)
Red bean ice cream
Video on How to Make Red Bean Paste
![Sweet Red Bean Paste (Anko) is super easy to make from scratch, and its better than the store bought. Let's learn how to make red bean paste, also known as adzuki beans paste. And I cooked red beans in Instant pot for convenience. This sweet red bean paste is excellent for Japanese dessert, Chinese dessert, as mooncakes' filler, for red bean paste buns or bread and pastries. Sweet Red Bean Paste (Anko) is super easy to make from scratch, and its better than the store bought. Let's learn how to make red bean paste, also known as adzuki beans paste. And I cooked red beans in Instant pot for convenience. This sweet red bean paste is excellent for Japanese dessert, Chinese dessert, as mooncakes' filler, for red bean paste buns or bread and pastries.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFEIh-4ynq6MGOogWyUFGySEcAAd-xie3enR42ndEm_owgeaH9WdqTyRiIpmKjL_cV_wj1Nop_fo1IiXqHvuW-ej06lirFgoCAsWjEtEgCKcSAqqxO1-pVrBmyVix01zwP0LpG5NLksw/s16000-rw/Sweet-red-bean-paste-Pin-for-Blog.jpg)
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