Sekihan- Azuki Bean Rice 赤飯

Method21 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Choose one method for one batch: Instant Pot steps 1–10, or the alternative stovetop pressure-cooker steps 11–21. For the Instant Pot method, rinse the azuki beans (1/4 cup) and discard the rinsing water.

   Uses 1/4 cup azuki beans · Water as needed to rinse rice and azuki beans

   
2. 2

   Step 2: Put the washed beans and measured 2½ cups cooking water in the Instant Pot. Lock the lid, set the valve as your model requires and stay below its beans/grains maximum fill limit.

   Uses Washed drained azuki beans · 2 ½ cups water

3. 3

   Step 3: Set Pressure Cook to ten minutes at low pressure, following your model’s controls. The hold timer begins after the cooker has reached pressure.

   Pressure Cook Beans · 10 minUses Azuki beans and measured water in the Instant Pot

4. 4

   Step 4: Meanwhile rinse the two supplied rice-cooker cups of glutinous rice, then drain thoroughly. Do not leave this rice soaking for the pressure-cooker method.

   Uses 2 cups of glutinous rice (used the cup attached to the Instapot) · Water as needed to rinse rice and azuki beans

   
5. 5

   Step 5: When the bean hold finishes, cancel heating and allow pressure to release naturally, following your cooker’s instructions for beans. Wait until pressure is fully released and the float valve has dropped before opening; do not vent the bean broth rapidly.

   Naturally release bean pressureUses Azuki beans after the ten-minute low-pressure hold

6. 6

   Step 6: Open the fully depressurized cooker and check that the beans are tender; cook further according to your cooker if needed before adding salt. Ladle the coloured broth up and pour it back into the pot several times, as the source describes. Retain the beans and their broth.

   Uses Naturally depressurized beans and coloured cooking broth

7. 7

   Step 7: Add the washed rice and the salt (1 tsp). Close and lock the lid and set the instantpot.

   Uses Tender azuki beans with aerated coloured broth · Washed drained glutinous rice · 1 tsp salt

8. 8

   Step 8: Lock the lid and set Pressure Cook to three minutes at low pressure, following your model’s controls.

   Pressure Cook Rice · 3 minUses Glutinous rice, tender azuki beans, broth and salt

9. 9

   Step 9: Cancel heating and allow pressure to come down naturally, about twenty minutes in the source’s equipment. Keep the cooker closed until pressure is fully released and its float valve has dropped, even if the reminder finishes sooner.

   Natural Pressure Release · 20 minUses Sekihan after the three-minute rice pressure hold

   
10. 10

    Step 10: Once all pressure has released, open and gently stir without mashing the rice. Serve with black sesame seeds. The Instant Pot method is complete; skip the remaining alternative stovetop instructions.

    Uses Fully naturally depressurized cooked sekihan · Black sesame to sprinkle

11. 11

    Step 11: Alternative stovetop pressure-cooker method only: start here instead of steps 1–10, using the same single recipe batch. Rinse the azuki beans (1/4 cup) and discard rinsing water.

    Uses 1/4 cup azuki beans · Water as needed to rinse rice and azuki beans

12. 12

    Step 12: Add 2 & ½ cups of water and the azuki beans in a pressure cooker, lock the lid and cook over high heat.

    Uses Washed drained azuki beans for stovetop method · 2 ½ cups water

13. 13

    Step 13: When the pressure indicator pin rises, turn the heat down to low and cook for 10 minutes.

    Cook Beans · 10 minUses Azuki beans and measured water in the stovetop pressure cooker

14. 14

    Step 14: Meanwhile rinse the two source rice-cooker cups of glutinous rice and drain thoroughly; do not leave it soaking for this pressure-cooker method.

    Uses 2 cups of glutinous rice (used the cup attached to the Instapot) · Water as needed to rinse rice and azuki beans

15. 15

    Step 15: Turn off the heat and allow pressure to release naturally as required by your cooker’s instructions for beans. Open only once fully depressurized; avoid a rapid release of the foaming bean broth.

    Naturally release stovetop bean pressureUses Azuki beans after the ten-minute stovetop pressure hold

16. 16

    Step 16: Open the fully depressurized cooker. Check the beans are tender and cook further according to your cooker if needed before adding salt. Scoop coloured cooking broth with a ladle and pour it back into the pot.

    Uses Fully depressurized beans and coloured broth

17. 17

    Step 17: Continue this step a few times to make sure the colour comes out later in the rice.

    Uses Tender beans and broth after the first ladle-and-pour

18. 18

    Step 18: Add the rice and the salt (1 tsp) and put the lid back on and cook it over high heat and wait for the pressure pin to rise again.

    Uses Tender beans with aerated coloured cooking broth · Washed drained glutinous rice · 1 tsp salt

19. 19

    Step 19: Once the pin rises, turn the heat down to low and leave for 3 minutes.

    Cook Rice · 3 minUses Repressurized rice, tender beans, coloured broth and salt

20. 20

    Step 20: Turn the heat off and allow the pressure to release naturally.

    Naturally release stovetop rice pressureUses Sekihan after the three-minute stovetop rice hold

21. 21

    Step 21: Once all the pressure has released, stir the rice (without mashing or over-mixing) then serve with the sprinkled black sesame!

    Uses Fully naturally depressurized stovetop sekihan · Black sesame to sprinkle