Kyoto Style Oshiruko (Sweet Red Bean Soup)

Prefecture: Kyoto
Producer: Natural Attorait
Ingredients: Beet sugar (Hokkaido Prefecture), sarashi-an (powdered sweet adzuki red beans) (Hokkaido Prefecture), sticky rice, potato starch, salt
Vegan,  Dairy-free, Soy-free
Size: 1 item

There is nothing more comforting on a cold winter day than a bowl of sweet warm dessert soup. You may be familiar with zenzai, a traditional Japanese dessert soup made with adzuki (sweet red beans) and plump hot mochi (glutinous rice). Oshiruko is a similar treat but with adzuki beans that have been boiled and pressed into a smooth paste, making for a more liquidy soup.

This handmade Kyoto-style oshiruko is made with sarashi-an (powdered sweet red beans) and beet sugar, both from Hokkaido, which is then wrapped in a mochi (sticky glutinous rice) dough.

Red beans and mochi are both traditionally enjoyed on New Year’s in Japan. Red is a symbol of happiness and prosperity and therefore you’ll find red adzuki beans served at special occasions and during holidays. Mochi is also enjoyed at New Year’s and is said to bring good fortune for the year to come.

Suggested uses: Open the package and unwrap the oshiruko (white mochi with sarashi-an (red bean powder) inside). Break open the white mochi over a bowl and pour the red bean powder into the bowl. Add the white mochi which you just broke apart. Pour 100-120ml of hot water into the bowl and combine until the red bean powder becomes soupy and the mochi is chewy. Serve hot and enjoy. Can also be split into two smaller servings.