Adzuki beans are small, red beans with a slightly sweet, nutty flavor and a creamy texture. Cooking adzuki beans at home is easy, budget-friendly, and tastier than canned versions. I will share how to cook adzuki beans on the stovetop and in an instant pot. They are great for soups, salads, stews, and sweet red bean paste.
This recipe is excellent for people who want to add more plant-based protein to their meals. Adzuki beans are packed with nutrients like fiber, iron, and potassium.
The Instant Pot makes it simple to cook a big batch of beans at one time so you can divide them into portions for several meals during the week.
You can also easily cook these beans on the stovetop; it just takes a little longer. I also recommend soaking the beans when cooking on the stovetop, as this helps to reduce the cooking time.
I enjoy using the pressure cooker to cook different types of beans, like chickpeas, cannellini beans, and black beans. They are quick to cook and cheaper than buying canned beans.
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What are Adzuki Beans?
Adzuki beans, also called red beans, are small reddish-brown beans often used in Asian cooking. You will also see them called Aduki beans. They are used in savory meals, like soups and curries, and sweet foods, like red bean paste, which is common in many Asian desserts.
Adzuki beans are packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients. One cup of cooked adzuki beans has 17 grams of fiber and 17 grams of protein.
Why Cook Red Beans at Home?
✔ More Flavorful than store-bought canned beans
✔ No Preservatives—just wholesome, natural goodness
✔ Budget-Friendly and makes a big batch
✔ Versatile—great for savory dishes and sweet treats!
Do you need to soak Adzuki beans before cooking?
Soaking is not necessary when using the Instant Pot. High-pressure cooking removes the need to soak food. However, when cooking on the stovetop, I suggest soaking the beans; this can slightly lessen the cooking time and improve digestibility.
How to Cook Adzuki Beans?
Rinse the Beans: Wash dried Adzuki beans under running water in a fine mesh strainer to remove any debris.
Instant Pot Adzuki Beans
Add beans and water to the Instant Pot. Add salt (optional). Close the lid with the vent in the sealing position.
Set the Instant Pot to High Pressure and adjust the timer to 8 minutes for al dente or firm beans. Or set it to 12 minutes for soft beans.
When the cooking time is up, turn off the Instant Pot and do a 12-minute NPR, which means releasing the pressure manually 10 minutes after the beep.
If you are using the beans for salad, you can drain any excess liquid. If using it for soups, then you can use the beans with the liquid in the pot.
Adzuki beans are ready to be used or stored.
Stovetop Method
Soak the rinsed adzuki beans for 4 hours or overnight. If you are short on time, then you can also soak them in hot water for 30 minutes to an hour.
Add the adzuki beans and 4 cups of water to a medium pot. Add salt (optional). Turn the heat on a medium-high flame and bring it to a boil.
Now, reduce heat to low and let the beans simmer for about 30 minutes until tender. Unsoaked beans will take 40-45 minutes to cook.
Pro-Tips
Cooking Time: In my many tests, I found that the cooking time for beans can vary depending on the quality of the adzuki beans and how long they have been sitting on the store shelf or the pantry. This time has worked best for me in the many times I have cooked them. But add more time as needed for tender cooked beans. In general, cooking time does not change if you half or double this recipe.
Seasoning: Optionally, you can add a couple of cloves of garlic and bay leaves while cooking adzuki beans. You can also add 1/2 teaspoon salt to season the beans.
Extra Flavor: You can cook adzuki beans in vegetable broth instead of water.
How to Store Adzuki Beans?
Cooked adzuki beans can be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days if kept in airtight containers. To store for a longer period, divide the beans into individual portions and freeze for up to three months.
Adzuki Bean Recipes
Adzuki beans are very versatile and can be used in sweet and savory recipes. Here are some ways you can use adzuki beans:
- Soups: Replace black beans or kidney beans in any soup with adzuki beans, such as vegetarian quinoa chili or taco soup.
- Salads and Bowls: Add them to salads and Buddha bowls, such as this sweet potato quinoa Buddha bowl.
- Curry: These beans are a great replacement for mung beans in this green moong dal recipe or this curried lentil soup.
- Bean Paste: Blend these adzuki red beans into traditional red bean paste for Asian desserts.
- Desserts: Add them to brownies for a sweet, nutty taste with an extra nutrition boost.
I would love to know your favorite ways to use adzuki beans. Share in the comments!
More Beans Recipes To Try
How to Cook Adzuki Beans (Instant Pot & Stovetop)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Adzuki beans, dry
- 4 cups Water, for stovetop, 3 cups for instant pot
Instructions
- Rinse the adzuki beans in ample water using a fine mesh strainer.
Instant Pot Method
- Add the adzuki beans along with 3 cups of water to the instant pot steel insert. Add salt (optional). Close the lid with the vent in the sealing position.
- Set the Instant Pot to High Pressure, and adjust the timer to 8 minutes for al dente or firm beans. Or set to 10-12 minutes for soft beans.
- When the cooking time is up, turn off the Instant Pot and do a 10-minute NPR, which means release the pressure manually 10 minutes after the beep.
Stovetop Method
- For the stovetop method, I recommend soaking the beans for 4 hours or overnight. If you have less time, you can soak in hot water for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Add the adzuki beans and 4 cups of water to a medium pot. Add salt (optional). Turn the heat on a medium-high flame and bring it to a boil. Now, reduce heat to low and let the beans simmer for about 30 minutes until they are tender. Unsoaked beans will take 40-45 minutes to cook.
Strain and Store
- Strain the liquid and the adzuki beans are ready to use or store. You can refrigerate for up to 3-4 days or freeze the adzuki beans in small batches up to 3 months.
