Simple Seasoned Adzuki Beans

5 from 1 vote

Dive into this simple aduki beans recipe, a delightful twist on traditional pinto beans. Perfect for those seeking a quick, nutritious dish, these beans, often used in Japanese cuisine, offer a unique flavor profile without the need for soaking.

Prep Time5

Cook Time1 35

Total Time1 40

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Japanese

Servings:

Calories: 196kcal

Ingredients

4 cups adzuki beans dry, or you can substitute pinto beans
4 slices organic uncured bacon sliced into 1 inch pieces- optional; bacon lends a nice smoky saltiness but you can leave out for vegetarian beans
water
1 tsp coarse sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder

Instructions

If not using adzuki beans, it's best to soak your beans overnight in a large pot covered with water. After they have soaked, drain them and rinse several times. If you are using the adzuki beans, just go ahead and rinse them.
Place rinsed beans and bacon in a large pot on the stove. Pour water over the beans to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Skim any foam that might rise to the top while cooking, and add additional water (or stock), if there does not seem to be enough liquid.
Cook until the beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours (or as long as 3 hours for pinto and other beans).
Add the sea salt (don't add too much if you've used stock) and pepper, plus the seasonings I mentioned (or others that you like) to taste. You can serve these in whole wheat or corn tortillas with the toppings of your choice: think grated raw cheese, fresh salsa, guacamole, organic sour cream, etc. Or have some in a bowl with a side of cornbread (I made a pretty good gluten-free one that you can see in the top picture). Fresh chopped tomato, cucumber, red pepper, and sliced avocado are also wonderful additions.
My favorite healthy way to eat these, though, is this: chop some collard greens very fine, add some olive oil and fresh lime juice, and mix with the beans, veggies, and salsa. Top with some green onions and minced cilantro- yum yum yum!

Nutrition