🍜 Azuki Battou (Noodle with Red Beans)

‘Azuki Battou' is a dish simmered wide and short ‘udon' noodle in sweet red bean soup, and mainly eaten in Sanriku Coast region. It is said that the name ‘Battou' is a regional accent of ‘houtou' (type of noodle). It is often served as a special feast at auspicious occasions like ‘Tatemae' (topping out ceremony) or ‘Niwa-jimai' (thanksgiving for farmers), as a snack during farm work, and as a treat for gathering in winter. In this case, it is separately served in a bowl, and eaten with soup, pickles and vinegar salad. In Sanriku Coast region, there is a custom that ‘when you bathe seven times and eat ‘Azuki Battou' seven times, you won't have any health issues and any trouble in the year' on ‘Seventh Day' on August 7 (it's the seventh day of ‘obon' in some areas), and it is a summer tradition in the area.