A super easy-to-make and delicious vegan dip, spread or salad ingredient. The addition of miso gives extra flavour and depth to this Japanese inspired aduki bean dip. No aduki beans? Just swap them for what you have.
AD – this post contains affiliate links. See my cookie and privacy statement for further details.
Aduki Bean Dip for Veganuary
This, my first post of the year, has to be not only delicious and nutritious, but also vegan. I take part in Veganuary every year. In case you haven’t heard of Veganuary, it involves taking on a vegan diet for the whole month of January.
For me, however, it’s more than just going vegan for the month. I try to eat more healthily and with less processed foods. Principally it’s the sugar I try and cut down on. By the end of the month I’ve generally lost half a stone or more and I feel a lot healthier. Whether it’s because I’ve cut out the sugar or the dairy, I’ve no idea. But for me, the two go hand in hand.
The first time I took the challenge, it was precisely that, a challenge. But it gets easier every year and now I actively look forward to it. I always like to try something I haven’t before, whether that be a recipe, a new foodstuff, a new technique or all three.
Turns out, I can’t claim that this aduki bean dip is one of these. I created this in the middle of a sizzling summer one year. But nevertheless, it feels like a good recipe to start off the new year.
Aduki Bean Dip
This is one of those fabulous recipes that as long as you have a blender or food processor, it’s super easy to make. Luckily, aduki bean dip is both delicious and nutritious too.
Place all of the ingredients bar the sesame seeds and oil in a food processor or blender. Whizz until everything has blended into a smooth (ish) paste.
I usually use a small food processor* for this as it’s quick to do and easy to wash up. For larger amounts, I’d use my ab fab Froothie Evolve power blender* though.
If serving as a dip, scrape the mixture into a bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil and scatter with sesame seeds. Otherwise use straight away or store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week.
Use as a sandwich spread, a dip for crackers and crudités or add to salads, as I have in this sausage salad.
Japanese Flavours
Aduki Beans
The first time I made this aduki bean miso dip, it was especially for this sausage salad recipe. I’d planned on making a white bean miso dip, but found when I looked in the cupboard that I only had a tin of aduki beans.
Aduki beans are small red beans with both nutty and sweet notes. They’re one of my favourite pulses. I often use them in stews such as this vegan bean chilli, where they work particularly well.
They’re widely used in Japanese cuisine, where they’re known as adzuki. But they use them mostly for sweet dishes rather than savoury ones. Although I was inspired by Japanese flavours whilst creating this aduki bean dip, it’s in no way an authentic Japanese recipe.
How Much do the Beans in a Tin Weigh?
I’ve used a 400g tin of aduki beans for this recipe. Once you drain the water (aquafaba) out of the tin, they weigh roughly 250g. The exact amount depends on the bean and the brand.
A 400g tin in the UK is equivalent to a 15oz can in the United States. That’s about 9oz or 1 ½ cups of actual beans.
If you’ve got the time or can do a bit of planning, it’s much more economical to cook dried beans up instead. I usually cook a bag of dried beans in my slow cooker and then bag them up in tin sized portions. If you want to use dried beans instead, you’ll need about 125g or ¾ cup for this miso aduki bean dip recipe.
Miso and Tamari
When I thought about it, I was quite pleased that I was forced to substitute the white beans for adukis. Aduki beans are commonly used in Japan, so I reckoned it would better complement the miso and tamari I was planning on using. Game on.
Miso is a Japanese fermented bean or grain paste. It’s fabulous stuff and I use it a lot to give depth and umami flavour to all sorts of dishes, but particularly soup. You’ll find there are four main varieties, white, yellow, red and brown and not surprisingly they’re quite different. You can, however, use any of them in this aduki bean dip recipe.
Tamari is a Japanese form of soy sauce. Unlike most soy sauces, it doesn’t contain wheat and is thus gluten-free. It’s also particularly rich and flavoursome. A little goes a long way.
Other Miso Recipes You Might Like
- Beetroot miso soup (vegan)
- Miso marinated tofu with pasta (vegan)
- Miso muffins with kale, carrot and courgette
- Samphire noodles with miso marinated tofu (vegan)
Sesame Oil
To add to the Japanese themed ingredients, I sometimes use a good cold pressed sesame oil rather than extra virgin olive oil. Although it’s absolutely fine to use the latter if that’s all you have.
Its also really nice to drizzle some toasted sesame seed oil over the dip rather than the plainer sesame oil. This gives a lovely nutty edge to finish the dip and accentuates the flavour of sesame seeds.
Black Sesame Seeds
I also went with a mix of both black and white sesame seeds to scatter over the top of the dip. If you toast them in a dry frying pan first, it really brings out their nutty flavour.
Sesame seeds, but particularly black ones are widely used in Japanese cuisine.
Yuzu
If you have access to yuzu juice, you could swap that for the lemon juice to increase the Japanese flavour profile even further.
Yuzu is a particularly fragrant citrus that’s grown in Japan as well as other nearby Asian countries. It tastes something like a combination of limes and lemons. It’s also very sour.
Aquafaba
I don’t know about you, but I don’t really like the taste of aquafaba in cooking. Specifically the tinned variety where beans have been sitting in the water for I don’t know how long. Weirdly it’s fine in some things, like these aquafaba meringues, but I think it often gives food a “muddy” flavour.
So, unless I specifically want to keep the bean water, I drain the beans and give them a quick rinse with fresh water. Just pour them into a sieve and pass them briefly under the tap.
Can You Use Other Beans?
Yes, of course. You can use whatever beans you like or happen to have in your cupboard. Aduki beans are Japanese, so they pair up brilliantly with miso. But black beans work really well too. If you go for white beans instead of red or black ones, it’s best to use white or yellow miso rather than red or brown. This will give a different flavour profile, but the colour of your bean dip won’t end up a sludgy brown.
Other Vegan Dip Recipes You Might Like
- Baba ganoush: a smoky aubergine dip
- Guacamole
- Minted broad bean spread
- Roasted tomato & white bean dip
- Smoky red pepper bean dip
- Vegan smoky ham dip
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this aduki bean dip or a variation of it, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
For more delicious and nutritious recipes follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter. Or why not join the conversation in our Healthy Vegetarian Whole Food Recipes Facebook Group?
If you’d like more vegan recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Aduki Bean Dip. PIN IT.
Aduki Bean Dip – The Recipe
Aduki Bean Dip with Miso
Equipment
Ingredients
- 400 g tinned aduki beans equivelent to a 15oz can in the US
- 1 plump clove of garlic
- 2 tsp red miso paste brown, yellow or white all work
- 1 tsp tamari (affiliate link)
- ½ lemon juiced
- 2 tbsp cold pressed sesame oil + a little for drizzling – or swap for a good extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp water
- toasted sesame seeds for scattering (optional) – a mixture of white and black is nice
Instructions
- Drain the aduki beans and rinse quickly through a sieve. Shake any excess water off.
- Place these in a food processor or blender along with all the remaining ingredients, bar the sesame seeds.
- Blitz until everything has blended into a smooth (ish) paste.
- If serving as a dip, scrape the mixture into a bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil and scatter with toasted sesame seeds. Otherwise use straight away or store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
I’m sharing this recipe for aduki bean dip with Lavender and Lovage for #CookBlogShare.
This post contains affiliate links which are marked with an asterisk* or (affiliate link). If you buy through a link, it won’t cost you any more, but I might get a small commission. Thank you for your support of the brands and organisations that help to keep Tin and Thyme blithe and blogging.
Lucy says
I’ve got some adzuki beans to sprout so this is the perfect recipe to make with them. This is such a unique dip and sounds so delicious. Thank you for sharing it. I can’t wait to have this with my salad.
Choclette says
Hope you like it Lucy. Do let me know. I really must get back into sprouting.
Joshua says
I really enjoyed this aduki bean dip. I love using miso! You merged these flavors so beautifully.
Choclette says
Thank you Joshua. Miso is a must have ingredient in our house and it goes really well with beans.
Daniela says
I don’t think I have ever had a bean dip this flavorful! Thank you for this recipe
Choclette says
Miso makes pretty much anything taste good 😀
Marinela says
This vegan aduki bean dip is just as you said, both delicious and nutritious. And so versatile! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
Choclette says
Glad you like the sound of it Marinela. Delicious and nutritious is my aim.
Anaiah says
Wow! I’ve never had a bean dip like this before! The miso was a perfect touch and everything came out so flavorful. I didn’t have any aduki beans so used red beans instead and it still tasted amazing. I’ll definitely have to make this dip again and have it with the sausage salad you suggested. Looks yummy!
Choclette says
Glad you liked it Anaiah. Really it’s fine to use any bean, but they do all taste a little different. Red beans sound like a good substitute.
Julia says
I love this spread. I find it hard to get tinned aduki beans so I end up soaking and cooking my own. The flavour that the miso (I used white) was amazing and it’s definitely going to become a favourite in my house. We ate it with toasted pitta and salad and it was really lovely.
Choclette says
So glad you liked it. I find cooking your own beans generally gives a much better flavour and texture than tinned. And white miso is just fabulous.
Emily says
What a delicious way to enjoy aduki beans, Choclette! I love the savory and umami flavor that miso imparts. Thank you for sharing this tasty recipe!
Choclette says
Miso is a totally awesome ingredient. I’ve been in love with it since I first came across it – over twenty five years ago now.
Kayla DiMaggio says
Yum! I can always go with a good bean dip recipe! This one hit the spot, I had never tried aduki beans before but it had such an awesome flavor!
Choclette says
Aduki beans are one of my favourite beans, but it’s hard to find a good recipe for them.
Natalie says
This is such a delicious dip. Very nutritious and quite healthy. I’m saving this to try. Can’t wait. Yum!
Choclette says
Hope you like it Natalie. It’s one of our favourite dips.
Karen Booth says
I could eat my body weight in Miso, it is SUCH a fabulous ingredient, we all love it! I use it a lot in soups, but is looks amazing in this dip. Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare this week, Karen 🙂
Choclette says
It’s great stuff indeed. I mostly use it in soups too, but it’s a good way of giving an umami boost to various vegetarian and vegan recipes.
angiesrecipes says
So very creamy and tasty! Haven’t had them in a long while and now you have me crave some!
Choclette says
Go get some Angie. Beans are so good for giving a beautiful creamy texture to dips.