Meet the Oh So Awesome Adzuki Bean

With school and sport schedules in full swing I like to turn to one – pot meals that last a couple of days. In finding these recipes, I also look for them to be chock full of nutritionally dense foods. One food I introduced to my family a few years ago is the Adzuki Bean. The Adzuki bean is a legume that is common in Asian cuisine and even used as a paste to make desserts. A reddish brown bean with a white ridge also known as the red cowpea, it is highly nutritious with a nutty, sweet flavor. Containing the highest amount of protein than any other bean, it’s an ideal food source particularly for vegetarians. It also has a very high soluble fiber content to aid in digestion and elimination (especially of cholesterol). It is very low in fat and packed with flavonoids, an antioxidant important for decreasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and even cancer. And if that wasn’t enough its also a great source of phosphorous and potassium for bone strength, and folates and Vitamin B. And if all that isn’t enough to sell you, in Chinese medicine the beans are believed to improve the reproductive organs, kidneys and bladder function as well as help overcome fear and encourage bravery.

The beans must be soaked overnight and then boiled for up to an hour. They can be used as toppings on salads, flavored to be a side or try this one-pot meal with other vegetables and seasonings. They go great with brown rice or quinoa too. Adzuki is also known as azuki or red chori and can be found in your local health food store. Click here for more nutritional info.