sweets

[Miyagi Prefecture] Let's make delicious "Zunda" | Enjoy the taste of bright green early summer at home

Zunda mochi is a Miyagi Prefecture specialty. If you're a fan of Japanese sweets, the sight of a generous amount of zunda bean paste poured over the mochi will make you happy

By the way, did you know that you can make that bright green "Zunda" at home? What's more, the ingredients are very simple. If you can easily make it at home, you can eat as much Zunda as you want without having to worry about anyone else! Just thinking about it makes you happy, doesn't it?

So, this time we will introduce you to a simple method for making zunda at home and some recipes that use it. If you want to fully enjoy the taste of early summer, be sure to check out this article

First of all, what is "Zunda"?

Zunda is a paste made from mashed edamame beans. Depending on the region, it is called "jinda" or "nuta" and is eaten in the Tohoku region and northern Kanto. It may come as a surprise to you to know that it is not only eaten in Miyagi Prefecture

The bright green color is similar to that of uguisu bean paste, but the ingredients are different from zunda bean paste. While uguisu bean paste uses green peas, zunda uses edamame (immature soybeans). The distinctive fresh flavor of edamame is a unique feature of zunda

There are several theories about the origin of the word "Zunda." One theory is that it comes from "zuda," which means to crush beans as if hitting them, while another says that it comes from "jindachi," which means "battle sword," as Date Masamune crushed edamame beans and ate them when he went into battle

Nowadays, zunda mochi is often sold at specialty shops or as souvenirs for tourists, and is more commonly thought of as a packaged product than a handmade treat. However, it was originally made as a home-cooked treat. It was a standard offering during Obon, and was known as a summer tradition when fresh edamame beans were harvested

Below is a recipe for making zunda at home

How to make Zunda An at home

Here is a recipe for making zunda at home

Basic recipe

◇Ingredients (for 5-6 pieces of mochi)

  • 300g edamame beans with pods
  • 30g sugar (about 10% of the amount of edamame, you can reduce this to your liking)
  • 1/3 teaspoon salt

◇How to make

  • After lightly washing the pods, place the edamame in boiling water and boil for 10 to 15 minutes until soft
  • Place in a colander and remove the fruit from the pods. Remove the thin skin from the fruit as well. It is easier to remove the fruit by pinching it with your fingertips and rubbing it in the water
  • Put the edamame, sugar, and salt into a mortar or food processor, roughly crush them, and then blend
  • Mix with mochi or other ingredients to complete

Removing the thin skin is a bit of a hassle, but other than that it's a simple process that doesn't require much skill

An easier way to make

For those who want to make zunda even easier, we recommend not removing the thin skin

It's true that the smoothness of the zunda paste is inferior to that of paste made without removing the thin skin properly, but if you don't mind that much, I think it's within the acceptable range

If you are using a food processor, grinding for a longer period of time will reduce the gritty texture

It's also easier to make if you use frozen edamame beans that are still in the pods. Another advantage of using frozen edamame is that you can make it at any time of the year

However, edamame beans are in season in the summer and are full of aroma, so if you have the time, I highly recommend using raw edamame beans

Introducing recipes using zunda bean paste

If you want to enjoy the delicious zunda bean paste you've made yourself, here are some recommended recipes for that

  • The classic zunda mochi mixed with cut rice cakes
  • Mixed with shiratama dumplings, zunda dumplings
  • Mix zunda and vanilla ice cream in a blender to make a zunda shake
  • Layer ice cream, red bean paste, and zunda bean paste to create a Japanese-style parfait
  • Zunda toast served on freshly baked toast

Zunda mochi has a strong image of being a Japanese sweet, but we recommend pairing it with ice cream. The smooth and mellow zunda bean paste and the cool, milky ice cream combine in your mouth and you won't be able to get enough of it

Being able to eat freshly made zunda is one of the attractions of taking the time to make it yourself, so why not give it a try?

summary

In this article, we have provided information on how to enjoy Zunda, a specialty of Miyagi Prefecture, at home

The colorful zunda season is almost here. The appeal of homemade zunda is that you can eat as much freshly made zunda as you like. Please refer to the basic recipes for making zunda and recipes for using it in this article

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