Instant Pot Adzuki Beans

Instant Pot adzuki beans can be ready in less than half the time than cooking them over the stovetop! Their slightly sweet, nutty flavor means they’re versatile- cook up a batch to use in savory or sweet recipes.

We frequently use our Instant Pot to cook beans, (like our Instant Pot Mayocoba Beans and our Instant Pot Red Beans and Ham) for a few reasons- it saves a tremendous amount of time and frees up stovetop space. Plus, the Instant Pot is wonderfully low-maintenance. You can set it and forget it, and go about prepping whatever else you need to!

What are Adzuki Beans?

Adzuki beans have a delightfully nutty, somewhat sweet flavor which is why they’re often used in both savory and sweet recipes (for instance, they’re the main ingredient in red bean paste!). Their flavor does not require a lot of enhancement, which is why this easy Instant Pot beans recipe only calls for four ingredients!

Why you will love our Instant Pot adzuki beans:

• They’re easy to make
• Adzuki beans are a wonderful bean to incorporate into salads and main course meals
• The Instant Pot frees up time and stovetop space

The Ingredients:

This adzuki beans recipe only requires four main ingredients:

• Water or chicken broth
• Dry adzuki beans
• Whole (dried) bay leaves
• Salt

The Process:

Instant Pot beans are soooo simple. And the same goes for these! If you’ve ever wondered how do I cook adzuki, we’re here to tell you that it couldn’t be easier!

Here’s how to make dried adzuki beans in this wonder cooker (for the full recipe and ingredient amounts, see all the details at the bottom of the page):

1. Rinse the dried beans and pick out any pebbles. Rinsing the dried beans will help remove any excess starch, dirt, and even pebbles that sometimes find their way into the mix. This simple step will give you the best results, and even improve upon the flavor of the final product.
2. Cook the adzuki beans in the Instant Pot. Add the water (or broth) to the pot along with the beans, bay leaves, and salt. Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for the amount of time specified in the recipe.
3. Release the pressure. After the beans finish cooking, let the Instant Pot release pressure naturally for about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and taste the beans. Add more seasonings if needed.

Tips and FAQs:

• Do adzuki beans need to be soaked? They do not! We’re happy to say you can skip this step with adzuki beans since they’re small and cook fairly quickly (especially with the high pressure of the Instant Pot!).
• Where to find adzuki beans: Many grocery stores carry dried adzuki beans in the same aisle as other dried beans. If you can’t find them there, you can check the Asian food aisle or order them on Amazon.
• What do you eat adzuki beans with? If you’ve never incorporated adzuki beans into your cooking, we can’t wait for you to try them! They are delicious stirred into grain bowls, salads, and dropped into curries and soups. You can also try your hand at adzuki bean desserts!

Regardless of how you intend to use adzuki beans, we know you’ll love the convenience of this Instant Pot adzuki beans recipe! In search of some inspiration for how to use them? Toss them into this Southwestern Chicken Salad Bowl, a chili, or this 15-bean soup !

Enjoy! And if you’d like to try out some more Instant Pot bean recipes, we’ve got you covered:

• We love this easy Instant Pot Black Beans
• Our Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup is always a hit!
• Or try this Instant Pot lentil soup for a warm bowl of comfort food

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Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love:

• How to Steam Carrots in the Instant Pot: This is a wonderful go-to recipe for tender steamed carrots that are ready in just a few minutes!
• Instant Pot Lamb Shanks: A meaty, elegant and scrumptious meal made in the Instant Pot? Look no further than these tender lamb shanks served with a rich and flavorful gravy.
• Greek Dolmades with Cannelloni Beans: This Greek dish is made with grape leaves stuffed with ground lamb, veggies, and a little bit of rice. Since they cook right on top of cannelloni beans, the beans infuse with all that flavor!