Adzuki Bean Hummus | Plant-Based Recipes by Ashley Madden (2024)

Adzuki Bean Hummus | Plant-Based Recipes by Ashley Madden (1)

About This Adzuki Bean Hummus

Adzuki beans, also known as aduki beans, are amazing little legumes! If you’re not already, get acquainted with them and start by making adzuki bean hummus!

We’re borderline hummus addicts over here. We just cannot get enough!

Hummus is the perfect snack – smear it on Mary’s crackers or fresh pita bread. It’s a great dinner saver too! Mash a scoop of hummus into some baked potatoes and pair with steamed veg or a salad. Use hummus instead of marinara on pizza, spread it on a sandwich.

You get it!

But I’ve been switching up my hummus game a lot in the last year to reap the benefits of other beans. I love chickpeas, but other legumes with slightly different nutritional profiles are also beneficial, sometimes more beneficial!

InThe Plant-Based Cookbook, you’ll see that I have an entire chapter dedicated to beans and veggies spreads because I believe in the power of a good dip! I use black beans, navy beans, green peas, and edamame. But I left out one recipe that I knew I wanted to share here – adzuki bean hummus!

What Are Adzuki Beans?

Adzuki beans are little red/brown beans native to Northeast Asia and used often in Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Korean cuisine. In these parts of the world they’re often used as a sweet paste in desserts and even ice cream. Adzuki beans have a subtle nutty taste.

Adzuki beans are also categorized as a more “alkaline” or less acidic legume. In Chinese medicine they’re labeled the most “yang” of all the beans and are popular on a macrobiotic diet.

Don’t worry if none of that resonates with you! Just know that they are good for you and popular across many diets and cultures. See below for more details on their health benefits.

Adzuki Bean Hummus | Plant-Based Recipes by Ashley Madden (2)

You make this adzuki bean hummus the same you would any hummus.

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.

I like to pour additional water or aquafaba (viscous liquid from the can or cooking water from the cooked adzuki beans) as the hummus is processing. This helps make the hummus fluffy and smooth.

Ingredients You'll Need

Adzuki beans. I buy dried adzuki beans fromBob’s Red Milland cook them myself (see below for how-to) but you can also get canned. I suggest buying EDEN brandbecause they don’t use BPA in their cans.

Tahini. Tahini is pureed sesame seeds and it’s one of my favorite seed butters. I use raw and roasted tahinis but any brand is fine. Just make sure there is no additional added oil in the ingredients. The ingredient label should have “sesame seeds” as the only ingredient.

Lemon Juice. Use fresh! It brightens the hummus and adds balance.

Sea Salt. You should add enough salt so it has flavor but it should not taste salty! Add slowly and a little bit at a time and taste and re-season as needed.

Garlic. Because you can’t have hummus without garlic! Use fresh cloves. You can throw the garlic in the processor whole. The food processor (or high-speed blender) will take care of the rest.

Health Benefits

Adzuki Beans are powerhouse superfoods. They’re a phenomenal source of some important minerals that can be difficult to consume on a plant-based diet. Azuki beans offer zinc, iron, potassium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and manganese. Not to mention B vitamins, protein and fibre.

In about 1 cup of cooked adzuki beans you get roughly:

  • 17 grams of fibre
  • 17 grams of protein
  • 4.6 mg elemental iron. For context, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for a man is about 8 mg and for a woman about 18 mg (more if pregnant).
  • 4.1 mg elemental zinc

What To Do With Adzuki Bean Hummus ?

Avocado Toast – Spread a layer of adzuki bean hummus on toast and then top with creamy avocado and a pinch of salt. Add some fresh herbs or sprouts if desired.

Lunch – Add a good scoop of adzuki beans hummus to a wrap, salad, or sandwich and add fresh veggies and whatever dressing or fixins you like.

Snack – I love Mary’s Crackers but I’m also a big fan of this adzuki bean hummus paired with roasted veggies or warmed pita bread.

Adzuki Bean Hummus Variations

You can make this adzuki bean hummus your own by adjusting the ingredients or adding new ones! Add more garlic or add roasted garlic! Add fresh cilantro or roasted red peppers. If you’re used to making your own hummus, you can get creative and make it whatever way you like it!

Adzuki Bean Hummus | Plant-Based Recipes by Ashley Madden (3)

How To Cook Adzuki Beans From Scratch

  1. First, put your dried adzuki beans in a large bowl and cover with 3 inches of water. Let soak overnight on the counter.
  2. The next day, drain the water and transfer the beans to a medium pot. Cover with fresh water by 3 inches (ish).
  3. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours (depending on your beans) until the adzuki beans are easily squished when pressed between your fingers. You want them soft but not falling apart. Add water as needed if they cooking water evaporates.
  4. Drain the cooking liquid from the beans and they’re ready to use. OR store the cooked adzuki beans in their cooking liquid until needed. Remember that the cooking liquid (and the canned liquid) is called aquafaba and is ideal for making hummus more fluffy and whipped. Store the cooled adzuki beans in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Generally, 1 cup dried = 3 cups cooked

Adzuki Bean Hummus | Plant-Based Recipes by Ashley Madden (4)

Cookbook Update

The Plant-Based Cookbookwas named one of Amazon.com Editor’s Top Picks for Best Cookbooks and I am freaking out! The best kind of freaking out!

Thank you to everyone who ordered and helped promote this book! It’s been one the best experiences of my life and I hope you love this cookbook as much as I do!

Adzuki Bean Hummus | Plant-Based Recipes by Ashley Madden (5)

Adzuki Bean Hummus

Author : Ashley Madden

Prep Time: 10 mins

Servings: 3 cups

Course: Snack

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

A different spin on a traditional hummus that's creamy and a good source of iron!

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked or canned adzuki beans , drained and rinsed
  • 2 small garlic cloves
  • ¼ cup well-stirred tahini
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt , or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons water or aquafaba , plus more as needed (see instructions)

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients to a food processor in the order listed. Process continuously. While processing, pour more water or aquafaba through the feeding tube until a creamy, smooth consistency is reached.

    I usually use a total of ¼ cup water or aquafaba but remember that if you make your hummus while the beans are still warm (if you cooked them from dried) then the hummus will firm up a lot once it cools!

    Make your hummus with room temperature beans and add as much water as is needed to make it creamy but not wet!

  • Garnish with sesame seeds, sliced scallions, or red pepper flakes if desired. This will keep in the fridge for 5 days.

Notes

Aquafaba is the thick liquid in a can of beans or the cooking liquid left in the pot when the beans are cooked. It has a unique combination of carbohydrates and proteins that help create texture when blended or whipped.

Did you make this recipe? Tag @riseshinecook on Instagram or hashtag it #riseshinecook

Adzuki Bean Hummus | Plant-Based Recipes by Ashley Madden (2024)

FAQs

Are adzuki beans anti inflammatory? ›

Adzuki beans are also rich in antioxidants, which experts believe may have some anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetes effects ( 3 ). Rich in fiber and antioxidants, adzuki beans may help block the absorption of sugars in your gut, potentially contributing to better blood sugar levels and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Do adzuki beans need to be soaked before cooking? ›

Unlike other dried beans, there's no need to soak adzuki beans before you cook them. Even without soaking, they typically cook in less than 90 minutes on the stove! In fact, because they cook relatively quickly, I prefer the dried beans to canned ones.

Are adzuki beans better than other beans? ›

Adzuki beans are incredibly nutritious.

She noted that it's low in fat, naturally gluten-free and includes 7.5 grams of protein and 7.3 grams of fiber in a 3.5-ounce serving size. For reference, black beans have slightly more protein (8.8 ounces) and fiber (8.6 ounces) in the same size serving.

Are adzuki beans alkaline or acidic? ›

In these parts of the world they're often used as a sweet paste in desserts and even ice cream. Adzuki beans have a subtle nutty taste. Adzuki beans are also categorized as a more “alkaline” or less acidic legume.

What are the disadvantages of adzuki beans? ›

However, owing to their high fibre content, ingesting high amounts of adzuki beans presents with problems of excessive gas and flatulence, as well as health issues in the digestive tract, liver and kidneys owing to surplus fibre and protein intake.

What are the side effects of adzuki beans? ›

Concluding, he said, “There are no side effects of consuming adzuki beans but eating them uncooked or in large quantity can cause digestive issues such as gas, bloating, flatulence, mild diarrhoea, and nausea.”

Are adzuki beans less gassy? ›

The easiest beans to digest (therefore less likely to cause gas), according to Country Life Foods, are lentils, black eyed beans, adzuki beans and mung beans. (Click through to learn more about the amazing health benefits of mung beans.) The harder ones to digest are red kidney, soy, black and lima beans.

What happens if you don't rinse red beans? ›

Rinsing Canned Beans, From a Nutrition Perspective

If you're a relatively healthy person though, enjoying canned beans without draining or rinsing them first is fine. That's because our bodies require sodium to function. It's only when we go above and beyond what we need that it becomes a problem.

Why won t my adzuki beans soften? ›

There are three primary reasons why dried beans do not soften despite extensive cooking time: 1) they are old; 2) hard water; or 3) the presence of an acid. If you don't think your beans are old, then perhaps your water is the problem. Beans cooked in hard water will never soften properly.

What are adzuki beans called in America? ›

In English the beans are often described as "red beans" in the context of Chinese cuisine, such as with red bean paste. In Korean, adzuki beans are called pat (팥) and it contrasts with kong (콩, "bean"), rather than being considered a type of it. Kong ("beans") without qualifiers usually means soybeans.

What's so special about adzuki beans? ›

Adzuki beans contain at least 29 different types of antioxidants, compounds that may help prevent some types of cell damage. Experts recommend consuming antioxidant-rich foods instead of taking antioxidant supplements, because high doses of supplements may be harmful. Weight loss. Adzukis may help you lose weight.

How do you eat aduki beans? ›

Rinse and drain the beans every day until they sprout, which takes about 3 to 4 days. Once the beans have sprouted, they can be sprinkled on top of a salad for a little extra crunch or they can be cooked in stir-fries, soups, or stews for a nutritional bonus.

Are adzuki beans hard to digest? ›

A small, reddish-brown bean with a white ridge along one side, adzuki beans have a strong, nutty and sweet flavor. Super popular in Japan, these beans are low in fat and easy to digest. There's no need to soak them, but they do require 45 to 60 minutes of simmering before they are ready to eat.

How long to soak aduki beans? ›

Some people prefer to soak their adzuki beans before they cook them, but it is not necessary. If you want to soak your beans prior to cooking, submerge the beans in water in a pot, cover them, and let them soak for eight to twelve hours. Once they're done soaking, drain them and rinse them multiple times.

Which beans are most anti-inflammatory? ›

Beans such as chickpeas, black beans, red kidney beans, and lentils are high in fiber and phytonutrients, which reduce inflammation. They are an inexpensive and excellent source of protein, especially for vegetarians or vegans, and they're a low-glycemic carbohydrate. Aim to eat at least one cup of beans twice a week.

Are adzuki beans healthier than black beans? ›

Adzuki beans also contain a lot of dietary fiber and rich trace elements for body health, such as iron, calcium, and phosphorus; the contents of phosphorus, manganese, sulfur, cobalt, cuprum, and nickel in the seed coats of adzuki beans are higher than those of mung beans and black beans [5,11].

Are adzuki beans high in lectins? ›

The lectin content (average 11.91 mg·g1) is high in the grain of soybean (29), whereas it is low in adzuki bean (30).

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