Azuki Red Bean Ice Cream, #SundaySupper Birthday Party

NinjaBaker — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Why am I writing about red azuki bean ice cream in the dead of winter? I’ve been invited (and so are you!) to a Sunday Supper birthday party. Plenty of cake is sure to be served. But birthday cake just isn’t the same without ice cream. And red azuki bean paste is what fills an-pan bread – a popular Japanese winter warming bun. (Anko - red azuki bean paste - is made from boiled beans and lots of sugar.) So, I thought it was logical to bring red azuki ice cream to this January birthday party. (Does this make sense to you, too?)

An-Pan Bread: Japanese Winter Comfort

Here are the details behind the Sunday Supper birthday party. (Please scroll down for more info about your invite.) Isabel Laessig of Family Foodie is the grande dame of Sunday Supper. She is on a mission to bring families together around the dinner table. Two years ago Isabel created a #SundaySupper chat on Twitter. Initially a small band of friends exchanged recipes and tips, two years later the Sunday Supper crew is comprised of bloggers from around the globe. Every week foodies bake, cook and (make ice cream) for an announced theme. Today we celebrate Sunday Supper’s second birthday!

Red Azuki Bean Ice Cream in a fancy wine glass...
garnished with cheesecake Pocky!

The host of today’s Sunday Supper party is Liz Berg of That Skinny Chick Can Bake. She is the lady who kindly welcomed me to the SundaySupper and was my mentor. Liz is elegance personified. Many of her dishes are gourmet and/or French inspired. The humblest chocolate fudge recipe gets elevated to another level when touched by Liz ‘s hands. So you know this is going to be one classy turning-two birthday party.

In keeping with the upscale crowd, I turned to Saveur magazine for inspirational ice cream recipes. Sure enough I found one that infused red azuki bean paste into a vanilla bean ice cream base. I tweaked the recipe a bit and was delighted to discover an ice cream that murmured a distinct flavor of red azuki bean. I love red bean paste in my an-pans and traditional Japanese cakes. However, in ice cream I prefer a giggle of flavor.

Red Azuki Bean Paste Ice Cream Clown
(This may be an upscale Sunday-Supper-is-turning-two birthday party
but my inner two-year-old couldn't resist!)

If you prefer a guffaw – a more pronounced flavor - of azuki bean in ice cream, you’ll love the Maeda-en brand’s ice cream. (Available in many Asian markets.) Of course, you can always adjust the bean paste called for in the recipe below to your birthday / celebration treat taste.

Azuki Red Bean Ice Cream

Always-popular Japanese bean paste blends beautifully with classic American vanilla bean ice cream. This azuki red bean ice cream bridges the best of Japan and America into one creamy delight. The recipe is inspired by and adapted from Saveur magazine.

Ingredients:

2 vanilla beans
¾ teaspoon vanilla powder
1 cup sugar
3 egg yolks
1 ½ cups milk
1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
4 ½ tablespoons French vanilla pudding mix
1 cup sweetened red bean paste
Drops of pink food coloring

Directions:

Get out your sharpest knife. Split the vanilla beans and scrape the insides into a bowl. Add ¼ cup of the sugar along with the vanilla powder. Mix well.

Combine the sugar and vanilla mixture with the rest of the ingredients - except the bean paste and food coloring. Whip until slightly custardy and thick.

Pour into a container with a tight lid. Refrigerate overnight.

Churn the custardy mix in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. After 10 minutes, slide spoonfuls of bean paste into the whirl of creamy goodness. Add a drop or two of pink food coloring, if desired. (Left alone, a very pretty pale shade of lavender appears.)

Once the bean paste is incorporated into the cream mixture, transfer to a Tupperware bowl (or similar container) and freeze overnight.

Have sweet dreams and awaken to a day promising a divine dessert.

More Sunday Supper Birthday Party Food:

Brilliant Breads and Breakfast Fare:

Brioche aux Pépites de Chocolat from Food Lust People Love
Broccoli, Potato & Cheese Egg Cups from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Celebration Strawberry Crepes from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
Homemade Brioche from Masala Herb
Onion Cheddar Cheese Focaccia from Flour On My Face
Poached Pear Bread from Hip Foodie Mom

Amazing Appetizers and Cocktails:

Blood Orange Gin Fizz from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
Blue Cheese Walnut Tarts from Magnolia Days
Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Stuffed Butternut Squash from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
Cheesy Twists from What Smells So Good?
Key Lime Pie Martini from girlichef
Pizza Dip from The Food Army Wife
Slow Cooker Party Mix from Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos

Spectacular Soups and Salads:

Creamy, Tangy Bacon Salad Dressing from Daily Dish Recipes
Day at the Beach Healthy Tuna Salad from Shockingly Delicious
Low Carb Spicy Chunky Vegetable Beef Chili from Yours and Mine Are Ours
Luscious Fruit Salad from Pescetarian Journal
Quinoa and Buffalo Chicken Salad from In the Kitchen with KP

Enticing Entrees:

Carne de Porco Alentejana | Portuguese Pork and Clams from Family Foodie
Chicken Shami Kebab from Soni's Food
Chicken and Rice Dinner in the Crock from Momma's Meals
Curried Chicken from The Foodie Patootie
Healthy Chicken Tetrazzini from Citronlimette
Imagination Stew from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
Orecchiette with Chicken, Brocccoli, Mushrooms and Onions from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
Runny Egg Risotto from Jane's Adventures in Dinner
Sautéed Chicken with Tarragon Cream Sauce plus Arugula, Radicchio and Escarole Salad from Crazy Foodie Stunts
Seafood Stew from Healthy. Delicious.
Spice-Crusted Fish Tacos with Confetti Salsa from The Weekend Gourmet
Spicy Roasted Squash and Wild Rice Bake from Curious Cuisiniere
Spicy Shrimp Tempura Rolls from kimchi MOM
Spinach Proscuitto Macaroni and Cheese with Walnut Topping from Noshing with the Nolands
Tuscan Chicken Spinach Soup with Roasted Red Pepper from Sue's Nutrition Buzz

Decadent Desserts:

Azuki Red Bean Ice Cream from The Ninja Baker
Banana Pudding Parfaits from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Birthday Cake Macaron from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Caramel Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars from Pies and Pots
Chocolate Mousse Torte from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Cinnamon Sugar Churros and Chocolate Sauce from Neighborfood
Crumb Cake Brownies from Table for Seven
Frozen Chocolate Covered Banana Pops from Ruffles & Truffles
Gluten-Free Epiphany Cake from Happy Baking Days
Gluten-Free Vegan Coconut Cookies by Killer Bunnies, Inc
Happy Birthday Cake Batter Truffles from Take A Bite Out of Boca
Kahlua Toffee Ice Cream Cake from Webicurean
Mini Chocolate Bundt Cake with Raspberry Sauce from Peanut Butter and Peppers
Pineapple Coconut Cupcakes from Basic N Delicious
S'mores Snack Cake from Alida's Kitchen

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy! You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement

Japanese Red Azuki Bean Ice Cream:
Great for birthday parties and celebrating every day.

The best birthday present anyone can give is their care...I've been gifted many times in 2013 by fellow Sunday Supper participants online and even in person. Who knew that a chat around a virtual dinner table could create bonds of friendship?

Wishing you good friends and food to celebrate every day!

The Ninja Baker

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

Tags:

Japanese red azuki bean ice cream recipe

Japan

anko

#SundaySupper

The Ninja Baker - anko

Azuki Red Bean Ice Cream, #SundaySupper Birthday Party