Adzuki beans
Adzuki bean (lat. Vigna angularis) is a crop belonging to the legume family, which has a huge number of other names: “pall”, “phat”, “chavali”, “pinya”, etc.
Description
Adzuki beans are a wonderful herbaceous annual. Its fruits are small beans of a rather angular shape, the size of which rarely exceeds 5 millimeters. As for the color of the beans, it can be very diverse: red (at the moment this is the most popular type), gray, white, black and even bizarrely variegated. And in the center of each grain there are little white sprouts that look like stripes.
Where does it grow
Adzuki beans are actively grown in the Himalayas (where they were domesticated), as well as throughout Southeast Asia. By the way, in the north of China and on the Korean Peninsula, this unique crop was cultivated long before our era — in 1000. And after some time, such beans gained popularity in Japan, where they managed to take an honorable second place in the popularity ranking (after soybeans).
Application
Azuki is an integral part of a very distinctive Asian cuisine. This product can even be consumed raw! However, most often Asians eat these beans for sweets — its grains boast not only a unique aroma, but also a surprisingly sweet taste. After boiling adzuki with sugar, housewives get the famous sweet paste called anko. By the way, this pasta is very popular in all Asian countries without exception. Moreover, it is even prepared with various additives like chestnut, etc. And the paste itself is then added to many traditional Chinese dishes. In Japanese cuisine, anko is considered an excellent filling for all kinds of sweets.
A soup with the interesting name shiruko is also prepared from adzuki — for this, the beans are thoroughly boiled to a thick syrup with a pinch of salt and sugar. You can eat these beans in sprouted form. And very tasty drinks are prepared from boiled adzuki. By the way, Pepsi released a great adzuki drink in 2009!
Adzuki does not require any special effort in cooking — these beans do not even need to be soaked. In addition, the proteins it contains are very easily absorbed by the body.
Adzuki beans are excellent for normalizing heart function. Vitamin B12, which they contain, actively contributes to the maturation of vital red blood cells. Adzuki beans also contain folate, which helps actively prevent the development and proliferation of cancer cells.
This unusual bean also has another amazing property: it helps rid the body of excess fluid and a wide variety of waste products, making it very beneficial for those prone to swelling. Adzuki beans also help normalize gastrointestinal function and improve circulation—they are rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation and promotes healthy cholesterol levels.
Regular consumption of adzuki beans can even help get rid of unsightly dark circles under the eyes. They are also very beneficial for diarrhea and during treatment for various kidney diseases. Adzuki beans are also a great help for diabetics and those suffering from obesity—the nutrients contained in these tiny grains promote rapid weight loss and help lower blood sugar levels.
Contraindications
To avoid bloating and gas, avoid eating too much adzuki beans at one time. And if you have an intolerance, it”s best to avoid them altogether.
