5 from 12 votes
Kuromame
Kuromame is a traditional Japanese dish of simmered black soybeans prepared by soaking dried beans with baking soda and salt, then cooking slowly with cane sugar and soy sauce. The process results in glossy, tender black beans with a subtly sweet and savory flavor, often enjoyed as a side or part of celebratory meals. The beans are pressure-cooked and refrigerated overnight to deepen the color and flavor before serving.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Additional Time
1 d
Total Time
1 d 35 mins
Servings:
8
servings
Calories:
99 kcal
Course:
Side Dish, Appetizer
Cuisine:
Japanese
Ingredients
- 250 grams black soybeans
- 5 cups water
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cane sugar 200 grams, evaporated
- 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions
- Wash the black soybeans until the water runs mostly clear.
- Drain the beans and add them to a bowl with the water, baking soda, and salt. Give them a stir and then cover and let the beans soak for at least 12 hours.
- When you're ready to cook the beans, dump them into a pressure cooker along with the soaking liquid and add in the sugar and soy sauce. Add in your piece of iron and close the lid of your pressure cooker.
- Set the cooker to high pressure and put it over high heat to quickly bring it up to pressure. Once you hear it start to whistle, turn down the heat to maintain a gentle stream of steam escaping and then set a timer for 25 minutes.
- Turn off the heat when the timer is up and let the pot cool down to room temperature. Then, transfer the beans and the piece of iron to a container and refrigerate the Kuromame overnight to get a nice dark color and allow the flavors to mature.
- To serve the next day, drain only the portion of beans you plan to serve, and garnish with gold leaf (optional).
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
99kcal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
25g
(8%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Sodium
303mg
(13%)
Potassium
8mg
(0%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
25g
(50%)
Calcium
5mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 99
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 99kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 25g | 8% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Sodium | 303mg | 13% |
| Potassium | 8mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 25g | 50% |
| Calcium | 5mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.