Nabekko Dango (Red Bean soup)
Nabekko dango is a red bean soup made of azuki beans and topped with chewy rice dumplings. Even though this dish is referred as a soup, it is a popular winter dessert in Japan.
Video
Ingredients
- 100 g azuki beans
- 1 liter water
- 80 - 100 g sugar
- Pinch of salt
For rice dumplings (8 small pieces)
- 30 g rice flour
- 2 + 1/2 tbsp water
- Pinch of sugar (less than 1/2 tsp)
Instructions
- Wash the azuki beans and discard any damaged beans.
- Place the azuki beans in a pot and add 500 ml of water and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, turn down the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes. Tip: I recommend to put a drop lid on top (otoshibuta in Japanese). It will prevent the beans from moving too much so they won't break and it will also stop the liquid from evaporating too much. You can make it from aluminum foil. Just take a sheet of aluminum foil and fold the edges into a circle so that it fits inside the pot. Make a vent in the middle.
- After 20 minutes, change the water and use another 500 ml of fresh water. Again bring to boil over medium-high heat and once boiling, turn down the heat to medium-low. It will take another 40 - 60 minutes of cooking. Depends on the age and quality of the beans. And also if you soaked them before or not.
- The water will evaporate. If necessary, keep adding water so the beans are fully submerged. I added 200 - 300 ml of water.
- In the meantime, prepare rice dumplings. Mix rice flour with water and pinch of sugar. You may need slightly more or less water. It depends on the flour. Don't add all the water at once but gradually or wet your hand a little bit and knead the dough.
- The texture of the dough should be like earlobe. Divide the dough into 8 pieces (6 - 7 grams each). Form a ball and then slightly press to flatten it. You can use the end of wooden spoon or your finger tip to make a small dimple.
- Cook them in a boiling water for about 3 - 4 minutes. They will start to float. Or you can add them directly to the soup and cook them together with azuki beans. As they need only few minutes to be ready, add them after the beans are cooked.
- Try the beans. If you can squish them easily with your finger tips, they are done.
- If the beans are cooked, now add sugar and pinch of salt. Adjust the sweetness to your liking.