15 Excellent Adzuki Bean Substitutes

Adzuki beans are often used in Japanese sweets and pastries. Yet, they may also be used in savory meals.

They originated in Asia and are widely known and highly valued there, notably in Japanese cuisine. They are sent all over the globe and are prized for their medicinal properties.

These little beans are high in nutritious value, but they may be difficult to locate at times, which is why you will often want alternative adzuki bean replacements if you run out in your kitchen.

Consider kidney beans, black turtle beans, pinto beans, Mung beans, red beans, cranberry beans, cannellini beans, chestnuts, black sesame beans, lima beans, and other legumes in lieu of adzuki beans.

Best Adzuki Beans Substitutes

Its sweet flavor and subtle nutty flavor are used to flavor soups, salads, stews, curries, rice, and a variety of other meals. But, since they are not as widely known in the West, you may have difficulty obtaining them.

That is why it is fair to identify certain alternatives to adzuki beans.

1. Black Turtle Beans

Black turtle beans are little black beans with a delicate structure and a mild sweet flavor. When boiled, they absorb the tastes of the foods with which they are cooked.

They are native to the Americas and make an excellent alternative for adzuki beans. They’re small, black, and glossy, with a faint, sweetish taste and a soft texture.

This makes them an excellent substitute for adzukis in desserts. They are ideal for burritos, enchiladas, stews, rice dishes, and popular soups. Protein, vitamins, and minerals abound in black turtle beans.

2. Kidney Beans

Kidney beans, so-named because of their distinctive kidney form, are an excellent base for any savory bean meal, even those that originally called for adzuki beans. If you’re looking for an adzuki bean substitute, kidney beans are the best option.

They are so similar in color that they are easily confused. If you use red kidney beans, you may even make a meal that is the same color as if you used adzuki beans.

Adzukis, on the other hand, are smaller and rounder. Its flavor and content are same, but kidney beans need more soaking and boiling time, so keep that in mind when substituting them.

Nevertheless, kidney beans aren’t a good substitute for adzuki beans in sweet dishes. Kidney beans may be used in stews, chili, rice, pork, and other non-sweet dishes. Since kidney beans are more harmful, be careful to wet them before using them.

NOTE: Kidney beans contain a dangerous protein called lectin, which must be removed by boiling for at least 20 minutes before simmering.

3. Mung Beans

Mung beans are little green beans native to Asia and India. They have a pleasant taste and may be used to complement both sweet and savory recipes.

You may use them to make bean paste, soups, rice meals, stews, pastries, and other sweets. Mung bean flowers are delicious in soups, stir-fries, noodles, rice dishes, and salads.

They include a variety of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals such as iron and magnesium. Unless they are split or skinned, mung beans must be moistened.

4. Red Beans

Red beans are similar to kidney beans, except they are a bit smaller and rounder. They are also a more vibrant crimson than kidney beans.

Their composition and flavor are similar to adzukis, however use caution when replacing red beans in mild-flavored meals since they have a stronger flavor. They’re better suited to savory foods since their taste might be a little overbearing in a sweet dessert.

5. Pinto Beans

Pinto beans are a dark, blotched kind of bean that is popular throughout North and Central America. Pinto beans are notable for cooking down far faster than other beans, resulting in a mushy, almost paste-like texture.

Its mild flavor is similar to that of adzuki beans. Since both pinto and adzuki beans include folate, vitamins, and antioxidants, they work well together.

Because of their wide range of hues, pinto beans are not a genuine substitute for adzuki beans. Their relish is likewise somewhat more nuttier. Pinto beans, like most other beans in this page, do not work as well in sweet dishes as adzuki beans do.

6. Black Sesame Beans

Black sesame is a kind of seed that grows on the sesame plant. It provides several health benefits, including improved blood pressure and heart health. To elaborate, black sesame seeds are used in a variety of ways in Asian food, including as a topping for sushi.

One of the most popular methods to use black sesame in lieu of adzuki beans is as a paste.

Grinding black sesame seeds to make a powder that may be mixed with water and other ingredients to make a paste. While black sesame does not have a sweet flavor on its own, it may be combined with other ingredients to create a sweet paste that resembles red bean paste.

Depending on the flavor you want to achieve with Adzuki seeds, black sesame seeds might be a good substitute.

It is also the foundation of sesame oil.

If you want to use Adzuki seeds as a filling, black sesame seeds work just as well. Nevertheless, black sesame cannot be used in place of adzuki beans in delicious dishes.

7. Chestnuts

Chestnuts are delicious, luscious nuts found across Europe and Asia. They may be roasted like any other nut.

Roasted chestnuts may be crushed into a delicious paste as well. A chestnut paste is mixed with adzuki bean paste in many East Asian dishes to provide a delicious filling for buns and other treats.

As a result, if you can’t get adzuki or mung beans, you may use the chestnut paste instead. Nevertheless, adzuki beans cannot be substituted for chestnuts in savory meals such as bean soups and stews.

8. Cranberry Beans

Cranberry beans are one of the most eye-catching beans.

They are beige-pink in hue with red-brown specks and have a delicious nutty taste similar to chestnuts. Its delicate composition makes them ideal for salads, stews, soups, and other foods.

Nonetheless, make sure they’ve been well soaked before you cook them.

9. Cannellini Beans

Cannellini beans, sometimes known as white kidney beans due to their kidney shape, are the largest of the white beans. These beans have a nutty taste and a silky texture.

Cannellini beans may be used in salads, soups, stews, pasta, and other cuisines. As long as you don’t mind the color difference, they’re a great substitute for adzuki beans.

10. Lima Beans

Lima beans, commonly known as butter beans due to their buttery nature, are white and mashed beans. They’re fantastic in soups, salads, bean mash, dips, and casseroles.

Butter beans may also be used in place of adzuki beans in red bean paste. This is accomplished by moistening the butter beans and then peeling off the outer membrane.

11. Split Yellow Mung Beans

Yellow mung beans have a nutty and somewhat soft flavor, similar to adzuki beans.

They work well in soups, curries, and stews, and they may also be used to make a mung bean filler that can be used in lieu of red mung bean paste in recipes such as moon cakes, sesame balls, hopia, and other Asian sweets.

In a 1:1 ratio, one cup of yellow mung beans may be used in lieu of one cup of adzuki beans.

12. Great Northern Beans

Great northern beans are a kind of white bean found across North America. They often have a delicate taste and a somewhat elegant size, making them ideal for soups, stews, and casseroles.

Several chefs will create them as a tasty side dish on their own. While great northerns are a self-sufficient species of legume, they have many characteristics with other white beans, such as cannellini and navy beans, and are commonly used interchangeably.

If you don’t mind the unusual appearance of these enormous white beans in your meal, they’ll suffice as a substitute for adzuki beans.

13. Fava Beans

Fava beans, often known as wide beans, are spring legumes that develop in pods. They have a shell, therefore you must remove it before using them.

They are somewhat bitter, but also smooth, buttery, faintly sweet, and slightly starchy.

Fava beans, like mung beans, are high in protein and iron, have a high antioxidant content, and provide several other health benefits. They may be fried, steamed, roasted, sautéed, or eaten raw.

Fava beans may therefore be used in salads, soups, and stews.

14. Quinoa Flakes

I recognize that expression on your face. You’re surprised that non-leguminous foods can substitute adzuki beans, aren’t you?

You shouldn’t be surprised; sometimes, when you pick an option, nutritional usefulness is the primary reason. Quinoa flakes have the same nutrients, such as fiber, proteins, and antioxidants.

They are also gluten-free, making them a healthy choice for everyone.

Quinoa flakes may be mixed with pasta and rice, or enjoyed as a snack on its own with peanut butter.

15. Oats

Oats are our last non-legume recommendation for an adzuki substitute in your recipe, and they are pretty much the last option we have.

While considering Oats as a good option, keep in mind that they are high in protein and fiber, so you may switch them up for a different flavor while still getting the same benefits.

You may eat oats with fruits to make a delicious breakfast, or you can substitute them in your dish.

Related Questions

Are adzuki beans good for kidneys?

It certainly does! The key advantage of adzuki is its ability to improve kidney function owing to its high purifier power, which assists in cleansing our renal components.

Are adzuki beans good for the skin?

Absolutely! Powdered adzuki beans are a wonderful exfoliant for gently removing pale, dry skin and giving your face a healthy shine.

Adzuki beans contain saponin, a naturally occurring foaming ingredient that assists in pore cleaning by absorbing excess oils, removing dead skin, unclogging pores, and promoting circulation.

Are adzuki beans high in protein?

Yes. They may include a suitable amount of fiber, protein, complex carbs, and other nutrients.

Do adzuki beans cause gas?

They do, indeed.

Are adzuki beans high in potassium?

Indeed, adzuki, among other things, is high in potassium.

Conclusion

You don’t need to be bothered if you run out of adzuki beans, as I correctly mentioned. You may appropriately substitute other healthy choices.

Beans are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and minerals. They’re low in fat and high in folate, vitamin B6, iron, and zinc.

Based on this evidence, I highly advise you to include beans in your diet more regularly. When you replace them with other foods as healthy replacements, you may mix and match the new components for your dish.

I hope you found this information about adzuki bean alternatives useful.