Adzuki beans

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Adzuki Beans
If you've ever had red bean ice cream at a Japanese restaurant, you've eaten adzuki beans. Also called azuki beans, they are russet-colored with a strong, nutty, sweet flavor. They're common in Japanese cooking, and nutritionists love them for the same reasons they adore all beans: protein. But adzuki beans have another thing going for them: They are lower in calories than black beans, garbanzos, kidney beans, pinto beans and white beans (364 calories in a half-cup). The cooked beans are healthy additions to salads, veggie burgers and dips. Or, try Williams' recipe for red bean pancakes for breakfast.

Adzuki beans, $8 for a 28-ounce bag, Bob's Red Mill through Soap.com

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