May 30, 2012

Shiruko and Zenzai (Sweet red-bean soup with mochi)

Both Shiruko and Zenzai are "sweet red-bean soup," in which toasted mochi are served. The sweet soup is made from an, a paste made from azuki beans. When the soup is made with the thin and pureed koshi-an, the result is Shiruko, and when the thicker and chunkier tsubu-an is used, one speaks of Zenzai instead of shiruko.

[Shiruko]

Both are delicious on cold winter days. Shiruko is considered as an elegant dessert and served in Japanese-style tearooms (kanmi-dokoro).  

Both can be bought ready-made in supermarkets.