Koshian
(yield: 230g)
1cup adzuki beans (Dainagon is the preferred type...
don't ask me why/what!)
2 cups sugar
1/4tsp salt
Wash beans well. Simmer with 4 cups water about 40-50minutes. Add water if
needed to keep the beans covered. When you can squash a bean easily between your
fingers, drain the beans and mash them. In a mesh basket (preferably bamboo :-)
over a large bowl, strain the bean mixture in batches by pushing through the
mesh under running water (the idea is to leave the bean skins in the basket).
Put the liquid you strained into a linen/cotton bag (a jelly bag seems like it
will work... says about 25cmx25cm or 12"x12"), and squeeze out the water with
your hands by twisting the bag.
Have a large bowl of water, and knead the bag in the water (this is to get the
bitterness out) changing the water several times. Squeeze the water out at the
end as much as possible.
Add an equal amount of sugar into a saucepan with the bean paste from the bag.
Mix with a wooden spoon and knead over low heat (careful not to burn it). Add
salt and mix to desired "stiffness".
Another variation, instead of just adding sugar, make a sugar syrup first with
an equal amount (weight) of sugar, 40% water, and 1% salt. Then add the bean
paste and mix well over low heat.
White "an" can be made the same way using white beans. Change the water during
the inital boing 2-3 times to make sure the beans stay white. Also, very
important in the last step not to start burning!