Festive Pink Azuki Rice

Unlike other dried beans, azuki do not require presoaking. The older the beans are, though, the longer they will take to cook.

Azuki rice is served garnished with gomashio, a combination of toasted black sesame seeds and a little salt, for additional color, flavor, and nutrients. Black sesame seeds are available at Japanese and Chinese food stores, but if you can’t find them you can substitute white sesame seeds.