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5 from 1 vote

Red Bean Paste (Instant Pot)

This subtly sweetened red bean paste can be used in many recipes. This recipe quickens the process of making red bean paste by using an Instant Pot.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Keyword: adzuki beans instant pot, anko, red bean paste instant pot, red bean paste recipe
Servings: 1500 g
Calories: 2420kcal

Ingredients

  • 500 g adzuki beans (2.5 cups)
  • 1500 mL water (a little less than 6.5 cups)
  • 150 g sugar (3/4 cup, more or less to taste)
  • 1 tbsp oil

Instructions

  • Wash the red beans and remove any bad beans. Place them into the instant pot with the water.
  • Set the pressure cooker to high pressure for 30 min and let it natural release for 10 minutes. Drain the excess water. Note 1
  • Mash or puree the beans while they are still warm. If you want coarse red bean paste, you can lightly mash the beans directly in the instant pot. For smooth red bean paste, blend the beans in a blender or food processor.
  • Cooking the paste in the Instant Pot: Turn on the Sauté mode and add the oil and sugar. Stir the beans constantly until thickened and a line drawn on the bottom of the pot holds its shape for at least a few seconds. Stir constantly to prevent the bean paste from burning. Adjust the sweetness level to your liking.
  • Let the red bean paste cool down before storing. It will become much thicker once cool. Note 2
  • Cooking the paste on the stove: Transfer the cooked red beans, sugar, and oil into a large nonstick skillet on medium to medium-high heat. Cook the paste until it can hold its shape. Taste and adjust the sweetness level to your liking.
  • Set aside to cool before storing. It will slightly thicken once cool. Note 2

Notes

  1. If you want to make the bean paste smooth (not chunky), then reserve a little bit of the excess water if needed for blending into a smooth paste. Do not use too much water or the bean paste will take a long time to cook off excess moisture in the following steps.
  2. If you have maltose, look at my post above to see how to add it.