Adzuki beans are a small, oval, dark red legume with a white ridge running along one side. They are one of Japan's largest crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that one cup of cooked adzuki beans has almost 300 calories, 17 g of protein, 17 g of fiber and less than half of a gram of fat. High in vitamin A and folate, adzuki beans contain essential minerals such as potassium, phosphorous and magnesium.
Step 1
Buy dried adzuki beans from your local natural foods store. Choose a store with a high turnover, to ensure freshness. Look for beans that are firm and uniform in size -- about 5 mm; if beans are too varied in size, they will cook at different rates.
Step 2
Pick through the beans to separate any small stones or other debris from the beans.
Step 3
Buy pre-cooked adzuki beans in the can. Rinse the beans before using to remove excess sodium added as part of the canning process. This may be the most convenient method of buying adzuki beans, but is rarely the most economical.
Tips and Warnings
- Adzuki beans are easier to digest than other varieties, but to avoid flatulence or gastric distress, add high-fiber foods such as adzuki beans into your diet slowly, allowing your body time to adjust. Store dried beans in an air-tight container and use within one year of purchase. Do not mix older beans with freshly purchased beans, as older beans take longer to cook.
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