Asian Sweet Bean Pies
Recipe By: Norie Mori
INGREDIENTS
5 sheet frozen puff pastry sheets
White Sweet Bean Paste
1 can Spiral Organic Cannellini Beans, drained
¼C Spiral Organic Maple Syrup
1¼C Spiral Unsalted Roasted Cashew Nuts, chopped finely
1C sweet crystal ginger, chopped finely
Dark Sweet Bean Paste
1 can Spiral Organic Red Azuki Beans, drained
¼C Spiral Organic Maple Syrup
½C dried cranberries, chopped finely
1 egg yolk diluted with 1Tbsp water
METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 190-200C.
2. White Sweet Bean Paste – Bring cannellini beans and maple syrup to the boil in a small pot. Turn down heat, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it cool in room temperature, then place in a food processor or using stick blender, make bean paste. Mix with chopped cashew and crystal ginger.
3. Dark Sweet Bean Paste – Bring azuki beans and maple syrup to the boil in a small pot. Turn down heat, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it cool in room temperature, then place in a food processor or using stick blender, make bean paste. Mix with chopped cranberries.
4. Cut each pastry sheet into 16 squares (or cut out using a round cookie cutter 7-8cm in diameter). Prick with a fork.
5. Place 1 to 1½Tbsp of either bean paste on the centre of one side of the sheet and cover with another sheet. Lightly press the edges together and cut tiny slits 5mm apart using the tip of a knife or lightly press with a fork.
6. Brush egg yolk water mixture over the surface of the covered pastry (avoiding the edges). Sprinkle sesame seeds or place cashew on top of each pie.
7. Bake in the oven for about 12-15 minutes (depending on the size of the pies) until the pastry puffs up and the surface becomes golden brown.
TIP: For flower-shaped pies – cut pastry sheets into a round shape. Place the bean paste in the centre and cover with another sheet. Lightly press the centre to flatten and press the edges together. Using a knife, cut a slit 2.5cm long from the edge toward the centre of the pie. Make 8 slits cutting each opposite side. Twist each slit with the slit side up.