Matcha Zenzai with Warm Azuki and Toasted Mochi

Want a warm dessert eaten with a spoon, with mochi still distinct in the bowl? Among our Japanese matcha desserts, this zenzai brings together sweetened azuki beans, toasted mochi, and about 2 tsp (4 g) tea. With beans already cooked, four bowls are ready in 30 minutes.

• Preparation 10 minutes
• Cooking 20 minutes
• Total time 30 minutes
• Makes 4 bowls
• Tools a saucepan, a nonstick pan, a kettle, four serving bowls, a small bowl, a spoon, a spatula, and a fine sieve

Essence matcha goes into this sweet soup after cooking.

Ingredients for four bowls of matcha zenzai

• 14.1 oz (400 g) cooked, unsweetened, drained azuki beans
• About 2 1/8 cups (500 ml) water for the soup
• 2.1 oz (60 g) sugar
• 3.5 oz (100 g) plain mochi ready to cook, in four pieces
• About 2 tsp (4 g) matcha
• About 1 1/3 fl oz (40 ml) water at about 176°F (80°C) for the matcha
• 0.7 oz (20 g) kinako, roasted soybean powder

How to make matcha zenzai

1. Put 14.1 oz (400 g) cooked, unsweetened azuki beans and about 2 1/8 cups (500 ml) water in the saucepan.
2. Heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until simmering.
3. Add 2.1 oz (60 g) sugar.
4. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Toast the four mochi pieces in the pan for 5 minutes over medium heat.
6. Turn the mochi after about 2 minutes.
7. Sift about 2 tsp (4 g) matcha into a bowl.
8. Heat about 1 1/3 fl oz (40 ml) water to about 176°F (80°C) in the kettle.
9. Pour about 1 1/3 fl oz (40 ml) water at about 176°F (80°C) over the matcha.
10. Stir with a spoon until smooth.
11. Take the saucepan off the heat.
12. Stir the matcha mixture into the azuki soup.
13. Divide the soup among four bowls.
14. Put one toasted mochi in each bowl.
15. Dust each bowl with about 1 tbsp (5 g) kinako.

Sweet azuki bean soup is the base of this zenzai. Toast the mochi separately so it holds its shape better. Left in the soup for a long time, it becomes much softer.

Which matcha goes with azuki?

For this sweetened azuki soup, we choose Essence matcha for desserts. Add the matcha off the heat to keep its color. Sugar and azuki would overwhelm the subtleties of a cup served with water.

Can you use dried azuki beans?

Yes, but dried azuki need much longer cooking than the 30 minutes in this recipe. Already-cooked beans make the four bowls possible in that time. Matcha ujikintoki, served over crushed ice, is a very different dessert.

Our tip. Crush a few azuki beans against the side of the pan for a thicker soup, leaving most beans whole.

Allergens. Soy from the kinako. Check the ingredients of purchased mochi and azuki too.