Adzuki Beans

Recently I wrote a blog about several foods known to be better calcium sources than milk and dairy because unlike milk, they don’t produce mucous and are more readily absorbed by the body.

You can read the blog here.

Adzuki beans are one such alternative.

As well as being tasty and cute, they’re highly nutritious and packed with protein, and contain calcium, iron, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, thiamine, and folate (watersoluble B vitamin).

7 health benefits of Azuki Beans are:

1. Their ability to aid in weight loss
2. They can help prevent and manage diabetes
3. They optimize digestion
4. They contribute to growth and repair of cells
5. Help increase energy
6. Support in lowering blood pressure
7. Detoxify the body

That’s all well and fine, you may be thinking, but how do I cook Adzuki beans?

Here’s an easy recipe, known as AZUKI PUMPKIN STEW.

Good For: Regulating Blood Sugar levels (diabetes or hypoglycaemia); Sugar Cravings; Kidney Disease; Fatigue and Exhaustion; Replenishing and Nurturing for the body-mind

Ingredients: 

1 x Cup Azuki Beans (soaked overnight; discard soaking water)

1 x Strip of Kombu 

1 x Cup Arame Seaweed (washed and soaked in filtered water for about 15 minutes.  Then drain, rinse and set aside)

1- 1½ x Cups Chopped Pumpkin

1 x Chopped Onion

1 x Stick of Celery

1 x Tablespoon Sesame Oil

Fresh Springwater

Pinch of Sea Salt (or dash of Tamari Soy Sauce)

Method: 

• Cover the beans with water
• Bring to the boil and then discard the water
• Repeat this three times or until the ‘scum’ has been removed from the beans
• After the third boil, add Kombu strips to the beans and simmer until softened
• Add a pinch of sea salt
• Simmer for another ½ hour adding more water if necessary
• In another saucepan, sauté pumpkin and celery lightly with the onions
• Once pumpkin and onions begin to soften, add the arame (pronounced: a-as in ‘up’; ra– as in ‘rug’; me- as in ‘metal’)
• Cover with the beans
• Add more cold water if necessary and another pinch of salt
• Cover and cook on low heat until pumpkin is soft
• Add tamari to taste

Serve With: A Bowl of Brown Rice and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds on top

You can typically purchase organic adzuki beans, kombu and arame in dried form in health food stores.

おいしいですね?！

It’s delicious, isn’t it?!