Adzuki Bean Rice
Sekihan, or Adzuki Bean Rice, is a traditional Japanese celebratory dish made by steaming glutinous rice with adzuki beans, which impart a distinctive reddish-pink color and subtle sweetness. It typically includes just rice, adzuki beans, water, and a pinch of salt, and is served during happy occasions like New Year's, birthdays, and festivals.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is primarily a carbohydrate-rich food, providing a good source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber from the adzuki beans, along with essential minerals like iron and potassium. A typical serving (about 1 cup) contains roughly 250-300 calories.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 250 kcal |
| Protein | 6.5 g |
| Carbs | 50 g |
| Fat | 0.8 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
| Potassium | 300 mg |
| Phosphorus | 120 mg |
| Magnesium | 50 mg |
| Iron | 1.5 mg |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.15 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 2.5 mg |
| Folate | 45 µg |
| Manganese | 0.8 mg |
Per 1 cup (200 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, the red color of sekihan is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck, making it a symbolic food for celebrations. Nutritionally, adzuki beans are one of the highest-protein legumes and are prized in East Asian diets for their health benefits.
