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Mamekan - Kanten and Red Bean with Kuromitsu

Learn how to prepare Japanese mamekan - agar/kanten cubes, anko (red bean paste), and kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) - to enjoy all summer long.

Mitsumame is a traditional Japanese dessert where kanten (agar-agar) cubes is served with kuromitsu (sweet black syrup). There are many varieties of mitsumame, such as:

  • anmitsu: the deluxe version of mitsumame, with an (bean paste), mochi, shiratama dango, and seasonal fruit slices
  • mamekan: mitsumame served with bean only
  • coffee mitsumame: mitsumame where the kanten is made of coffee
  • cream mitsumame: mitsumame topped with ice cream

Mamekan is the simplest version of mitsumame, and once you can make a mamekan, you can pretty much conjure up the other four varieties without much effort. In this recipe, I use red bean as my mame of choice, but kuromame (sweeten black soy bean) is also a popular choice.

Mamekan - Kanten and Red Bean with Kuromitsu
Mamekan - Kanten and Red Bean with Kuromitsu

Mamekan - Kanten and Red Bean with Kuromitsu

Author: Anita Jacobson

Categories:  

Cuisines: 

Ingredients:  

Prep Time: 2 hours

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 2 hours 15 mins

Serves: 8

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Kanten (agar-agar) cubes
    1. Make the kanten by boiling together agar/kanten powder, water, and sugar. Different brand of agar/kanten powder may give different proportion of powder, water, and sugar, and it is best to follow your own instruction.
    2. Pour into a baking pan and let it set at room temperature. Then chill for 1 hour in the fridge. Cut into small 1/2 inch cubes.
  • Kuromitsu (black sugar syrup)
    1. Place all ingredients in a sauce pot and bring to a boil. Cook until the liquid is reduced to slightly more than 2 cups.
    2. Turn off the heat, and let cool at room temperature. Then transfer to a jar and store in the fridge.
  • To serve
    1. Place some kanten cubes in a serving bowl, top with 1 tablespoon of red bean paste, and pour some of the kuromitsu to fill about half of the bowl.

Notes

  • (*)Mizuame is liquid sweetener used in many traditional Japanese desserts/snack and is typically made of rice. You can also use honey or maple syrup if mizuame is not available.
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Indonesian Kitchen

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