Zenzai Adzuki Beans

Zenzai Adzuki Beans

Author: Yumi Stynes October 12, 2025 Duration: 5:30

Yumi is going back to her mother's country with this particular culinary love affair.


Zenzai is the name for Adzuki Beans when they're cooked and sweetened, but still hold their beany shape. There's fantastic info about it on this website which is particularly helpful if you love cooking Japanese food!


Sweetened beans can be a weird concept if you're not accustomed to it - but give it a chance, it's extremely digestible and leaves the body feeling invigorated and powered!


ZENZAI

200g Adzuki Beans

1 Litre of water

150g brown sugar

pinch salt


Boil the adzuki beans for 45mins. Drain and rinse them well then top them again with fresh cold water and bring back to the boil. Consider how watery/thick you want your finished product to be when you add the water. (Motto: "You can always add more [water, in this case], but you can't take it away!") Cook for 15 mins before adding the sugar and salt. Allow some water to evaporate but not so much that the pan is dry. Check the beans after another 30 mins. You want them soft and yielding.




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That familiar late-afternoon dread when you realize you have to figure out dinner yet again is a universal feeling. 5 Minute Food Fix is the antidote, born from the same chaotic, hungry reality. Host Yumi Stynes, alongside cookbook publisher Simon Davis, doesn't just share recipes; they deliver a burst of practical inspiration and genuine camaraderie. This podcast is designed for those moments when you're tapped out-maybe during the commute home or while wrangling kids-offering clear, actionable ideas for a meal you can actually make that same evening. Each episode feels like a quick chat with friends who get it, blending easy cooking hacks with unexpected laughs and little lessons about the everyday ingredients in your pantry. It’s about transforming the daily chore of feeding yourself and your family into something that feels manageable, even enjoyable. You'll come away with more than just a dinner plan; you'll find a renewed sense of confidence in the kitchen, all packed into a conversation that fits perfectly into a busy life. Tune in for a dose of reality-based food talk that cuts through the noise and gets straight to the good, simple stuff.
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