Anko for Dorayaki Cakes?
Wednesday May 17, 2006
Do you like Japanese sweets? A forum user asks: "I am trying to find anko, which seems to be a sweet red azuki bean paste... I found a canned item online and at my local asian market, but I am not sure it is the right thing. Online it is called "Prepared Meshed Red Beans Neri An". Does anyone know if this is what I am looking for or where I can find what I need?" Post your suggestions in the forum!
Comments
“Neri an” should be sweet azuki bean paste (anko), but it would be a little different from the sort of anko commonly found in dorayaki cakes – those would be “tsubu an,” meaning beans are not completely mashed. With that said, the difference would be more in the consistency. If you don’t mind smooth azuki bean paste, “Neri an” should be fine … otherwise, I would encourage you to continue looking for “tsubu an” in Japanese / Asian grocery stores. I have seen it sold in (vacuum-style) bags.
Good luck!
“Adzuki” is a variant spelling of “azuki.” Both mean the legume (bean) and the paste that is made after it is cooked. “An” is the paste made into a filling by sweetening and sometimes adding other flavors. However, “an” can be made with any bean that is cooked, mashed and sweetened. “Sweet red bean paste” is made with any red bean including azuki.
If kanten (agar-agar) is added the paste can be turned into “yokan,” another Japanese confection. In this case, the paste should be strained or sieved so it is not lumpy. Let it set before cutting it into narrow pieces.
“Anko”: “ko” means powder. My Merriam-Webster merely states that in Japan and China, azuki bean is made into a powder. It fails to state whether it is powdered before or after it is cooked. If the instructions on the package is in an Asian language, taste it to test whether it is cooked and/or sweetened.
Take an afternoon and a pound of azuki and experiment. You can become your own expert! You can mash the beans thoroughly or leave them lumpy. Find a recipe for “manju,” a soft wrapper made of rice and sugar.
Sample some green tea along with it! Otherwise, it’s just sugar and starch.