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Linda Watson’s Adzuki Beans is a delightful and nourishing recipe featuring adzuki beans cooked to tender perfection and served with a flavorful orange sauce. Adzuki beans, known for their vibrant red color and slightly sweet flavor, take center stage in this dish, providing a hearty and satisfying base. Paired with a zesty orange sauce, this recipe combines savory and citrusy elements for a delightful culinary experience.

The beans are simmered with aromatic ingredients such as garlic, onion, and carrot, creating a flavorful broth that infuses the beans with rich taste. As the beans cook and become tender, a tangy orange sauce is prepared separately, featuring ingredients like garlic, ginger, chipotle powder, onion, and shredded cabbage or bell peppers. The sauce adds a delightful balance of flavors and textures, complementing the beans perfectly.

To serve, the cooked adzuki beans are spooned over a bed of nutritious brown rice, and the orange sauce is generously ladled on top, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and colors. A final touch of freshness comes from garnishing with orange wedges, adding a burst of citrus to each bite.

Linda Watson’s Adzuki Beans is a comforting and wholesome dish that showcases the versatility of adzuki beans and the bright flavors of the orange sauce. Whether you’re looking for a delicious plant-based meal or a creative way to incorporate adzuki beans into your diet, this recipe is sure to satisfy your taste buds and leave you feeling nourished.

YIELD: 10 servings

TOTAL PREP TIME: 20 minutes

TOTAL COOKING TIME: 1 1/2 to 2 hours

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound (455 g) dried adzuki beans or 4 1/2 cups (1 kg) cooked or 3 cans (15 ounces, or 425 g each), rinsed and drained
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 to 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 carrot, sliced into 1/4-inch (6 mm) coins (peeled if not organic)
• 6 cups (1.4 L) water

FOR THE ORANGE SAUCE:

• 2 teaspoons sesame, peanut, or canola oil (*use water or broth)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons grated ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon chipotle or cayenne powder
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cups (280 g) shredded green cabbage or 2 bell peppers, cored, and thinly sliced into bite-size pieces
• Zest and juice of 2 oranges
• About 5 cups (975 g) cooked brown rice, for serving
• 1 orange, cut into wedges, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Put the garlic, adzuki beans, onion, salt, carrot, and water into a soup pot. Cover the pot, bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. This is when the beans will just start to become tender, which is when it’s time to make the sauce. (This could take longer if your beans are older.)
2. To make the sauce, heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and chipotle powder and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add the onion, stir, and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the cabbage and orange zest and juice to the onion mixture, stir to combine, and cook until the cabbage is tender, 5 to 10 minutes more.
4. Meanwhile, if the beans are too watery, you can either drain them or remove the lid and allow the extra liquid to evaporate.
5. Spoon the beans over the rice, ladle the sauce on top, and garnish with the orange wedges.

Enjoy your adzuki beans with orange sauce over brown rice, and the refreshing citrus garnish!

PER 3/4-CUP (170 G) SAUCE (DOES NOT INCLUDE RICE):

• 178.3 calories; 1.3 g total fat; 0.1 g saturated fat; 9.0 g protein; 34.4 g carbohydrate; 7.3 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol.