Dorayaki (Japanese Sweet Filled Pancakes) 叮噹餅

Doraemon is a Japanese comic series and is the all time hit Japanese classic cartoon on TV.  It’s one of my fondest memories of my childhood.  If you also grew up reading it or watching it, you must know Doraemon’s favorite food is dorayaki.  These soft and fluffy dorayaki are traditionally stuffed with red bean paste, but you will find chocolate/cream/jam fillings nowadays.

Ingredients:

Bean Paste:

1 cup ¾ cup ¼ teaspoon 3 cups

Adzuki beans (red beans) Light brown sugar Salt Water

Pancakes:

120g (1 cup) 95g 1  tablespoon ½ teaspoon 2 ¼ – ½   cup

All purpose flour Granulated sugar Honey Baking powder Eggs Water

Directions:

For the bean paste (makes 2 cups):

1. Soak adzuki beans in water for 3 hours or overnight (some people said soaking helps minimizing gas as it helps to remove the indigestible complex sugars from the outer coating of the beans).  I do belive soaking will have a shorter cooking time.
2. Heat adzuki beans in a pot with 3 cups of water. When they come to a boil, turn the heat down to low and simmer until the beans are soft.  If necessary, add water so that the beans are always covered.  Skim off any foam that appears on the surface.
3. When the beans are soft enough to break between your fingers, drain them in a colander.
4. Return the beans to the pot again and mix in the sugar.
5. Mash the beans continuously over low heat until almost all the water has evaporated and a paste has formed.
6. Add the salt and stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes more.
7. Remove from heat and let the paste cool.

For the pancakes:

1. Whisk eggs with sugar and honey in a mixing bowl.
2. Combine flour and baking powder and add sifted flour in the egg mixture gradually.
3. Slowly add water while whisking until smooth (add water a little by little until the mixture is slightly runny).
4. Drop small ladlesful on a lightly oiled fry pan to make pancakes that are about 3 inches in diameter. When bubbles start to appear, turn over the pancakes and cook briefly on the other side until brown.
5. Spread about two tablespoons of adzuki bean paste on one pancake, then cover it with another to make a sandwich.  Slightly press the edges.

Note:

• Put a few drops of cooking oil in a nonstick frying pan and use a paper towel to wipe off any excess oil (if there is too much oil, the pancakes will be crispy on the edge and color will not be even).
• Make sure to cook the pancakes with medium low fire.  I used low fire and the pancakes were too dry, when I used high fire, the pancakes were burned.
• You can boil beans in water for 3 minutes in a heavy pot, turn off fire, cover and let it sit for 2 hours.  At this point, beans are a lot softer, continue cooking and add sugar.