An Pan Recipe - Japanese Cooking 101

red bean paste

🥗Healthier: azuki bean puree

💰Cheaper: homemade red bean paste

Homemade red bean paste can save costs and control sweetness.

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil is a healthier fat alternative.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: water

Almond milk is a lower-calorie option.

sugar

🥗Healthier: stevia

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Stevia is a natural sweetener with fewer calories.

Pour lukewarm milk into a mixing bowl and add sugar and dry yeast; whisk well and let it sit for 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl, combine bread flour and cake flour; whisk well.

Add the flour mixture to the milk mixture along with milk powder and salt; mix until combined.

Use a standing mixer with a dough hook to knead the dough slowly at first, then increase to medium speed for about 8 minutes until a ball forms.

Add softened butter to the dough and knead for another 4 to 5 minutes until fully incorporated.

Shape the dough into a round ball and place it in a clean bowl; cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.

Prepare the fillings by making balls of anko, aiming for eight pieces.

Once the dough has doubled in size, deflate it and cut it into eight equal pieces, about 2.5 oz (70 g) each.

Shape each piece into a small ball and let them rest on the board, covered with plastic wrap, for 15 minutes.

Flour the surface and flatten each ball of dough with a rolling pin to about 4 inches (10 cm) round.

Place a ball of anko in the center of each round and wrap the dough around it, pinching to seal the filling inside.

Place the shaped dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving 2 inches of space between them.

Brush the tops with egg wash (mixture of egg and a pinch of salt) and sprinkle black sesame seeds on top.

Let the dough balls rise until doubled in size for about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

Bake the dough in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes until nicely browned.

Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens