I knew about read bean paste for a while, I even had a pack of it in my cupboards, but didn’t get the chance of making it. Also, my husband thought it is strange to make a dessert or sweet biscuits with beans. All this changed when a new Chinese bakery opened in Liverpool. I got a red bean bun from them and shared it with my husband (among lots of other goodies from them). We did that a couple of times before saying that I’m going to make my own version, a Red Bean loaf. It is so good. I love the texture of the red bean paste, it’s thick and very sweet.
The red bean loaf I’ve made is sweet because of the sugar in the red bean paste. I’ve added 50g of sugar in the loaf. For me it was sweet enough, but my husband said he would have preferred it to be a bit more sweeter. So, add 75g instead of 50g if you like a sweeter loaf. As for the sugar in the red bean paste, it is similar to the sugar in a standard jam that you can get from any supermarket. There is no need to add anything extra to the red bean paste.
Ingredient for 1 Red Bean loaf:
– 400g strong white flour
– 100g strong wholemeal flour
– 1 free range egg
– 350ml soya milk
– 50g sugar
– orange flavouring (optional)
– 10g Easy bake yeast
– 2 spoons oil
– 500g sweet red bean paste
– sesame seeds
Make the dough using a stand mixer, if you have one. In the bowl, put the flour and make a well in the middle. Add the yeast, sugar, the egg, the soya milk at room temperature, the orange flavouring, and the oil. Start to knead at very low speed, then increase the speed a bit and leave it to knead for 6 to 7 minutes. When the dough is ready, transfer it into an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel.
Leave the dough to rise for 45 minutes or so. Proving depends on the temperature in the room, so wait until it is double in size.
When the dough has risen, tip it onto the floured worktop. Flatten it with your hands, put the red bean paste on top, trying to spread it as evenly as you can. Roll the dough and put the loaf in an oiled baking tray. Leave the dough to rise again.
Meantime, pre heat the oven at 200C or 180C for fan assisted ovens. When the loaf has risen, brush the loaf with water and sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Bake it for 30 minutes, rotate it and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Test the loaf to see if it’s baked. When is ready, take it out of the oven, and out of the baking tray. Leave it to cool on a cooling wire rack.
Have you ever had a red bean loaf or a bun? I’d love to hear about your experience.
This looks and sounds tasty. I make cinnamon raisin bread that has a swirl in it like that, but I’m sure this tastes entirely different.
Thank you. It does taste different, the red beans paste is very similar to a thick jam. If you’d have a taste without knowing what it is, you’d never guess those are beans.
Yummy! I grew up eating lots of red bean desserts 🙂 This looks awesome, Anca.
What a tasty loaf! I haven’t tried cooking with the red bean paste, in fact, I don’t think I’ve seen it anywhere, though now that I know of it, I will keep my eyes open. We have an Asian grocery in town, I guess they will have it.
I’ve had red-bean loaf before and this looks like a similar offering. I have a beef one I like that I think would work well in this.
It looks tasty!