Shiratama Zenzai Sweet Red Bean Soup with Mochi

Ease:: Simple
Serves:: 2
Prep time:: 15 minutes
Cook time:: 30 minutes
Total time:: 45 minutes

Shiratama zenzai is a sweet hot soup made with azuki red beans and containing Japanese mochi dumplings. A simple and warming dessert.

Ingredients

**mochi:**

50g shiratamako rice flour

50ml water

**soup:**

200g prepared sweet red beans

salt

Method

Make the shiratama: Pour the shiratama ko white rice flour into a bowl, then slowly add 50ml of water, mixing all the while. You may not need to add all of the water, stop when the mixture has the texture of an earlobe. This is the traditional Japanese way of describing the perfect texture for shiratama.

Boil the shiratama: When your mixture has reached the right consistency, form it into balls about 1.5cm across. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the balls and simmer until they rise to the surface of the water. Then leave to cook for 1 minute longer.

Heat the red bean soup: Drain the shiratama, then plunge them into ice cold water and leave to stand. In a separate pan heat the prepared sweet red beans and a small amount of water. Add enough water that the mixture begins to become slightly runny, adjusting the amount of water accordingly if you prefer a thick or thinner soup.

Add the shiratama: Add a pinch of salt, to give your sweet red bean soup a subtle ‘hidden flavour’. Then add the shiratama to the soup and lightly simmer until warmed through.