Zenzai — sweet red-bean soup with mochi
Zenzai is a Japanese dessert soup: whole azuki beans simmered patiently with sugar until tender but still distinct, served warm in deep bowls with a piece of grilled mochi floating on top. It is winter food — eaten on cold afternoons with green tea — and a fixture of the Japanese New Year table.
i. Origin & history
The name zenzai reputedly comes from a Buddhist exclamation of approval. Zenzai is most strongly associated with Kansai (Kyoto-Osaka), where the chunky-bean version is canonical; the Kanto-region equivalent is called oshiruko and tends to be smoother.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 4 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 200 g dried azuki beans, soaked overnight
- 1.2 litres water
- 150 g caster sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 pieces kirimochi (small mochi blocks)
iii. Method
- Drain the beans. Cook in fresh water at a bare simmer for 60-90 minutes until tender — they should yield when pressed but still be distinct beans, not mush.
- Once tender, add sugar gradually in three additions, simmering 5 minutes between each. Stir in the salt.
- Grill or broil the mochi until puffed and lightly charred — about 3 minutes a side. They will balloon dramatically.
- Ladle hot zenzai into bowls. Float a grilled mochi on top. Eat warm.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Soak the beans. Unsoaked azuki take an extra hour.
- Sugar in stages. Adding all the sugar at once shocks the beans and toughens their skins.
- Grill the mochi. Boiled mochi works but loses the toasted-skin flavour.
v. Variations
Oshiruko (Kanto-style) uses smooth bean paste. Cold zenzai in summer is a refreshing variant. Some versions add a pinch of salt-cured cherry blossoms for spring.
vi. Common questions
What is zenzai?
Zenzai is sweet red-bean soup with mochi, from japanese cuisine. It is winter food — eaten on cold afternoons with green tea — and a fixture of the Japanese New Year table
Where is zenzai from?
Zenzai is from the japanese dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does zenzai keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 3 days refrigerated.