🍱 Denbu

In Tokushima prefecture, there are many traditional dishes which use “kintokimame” (=red kidney beans) in them, such as “barazushi” and “mametentama” (=type of okonomiyaki with sweet kintokimame in them). “Denbu” is one of such dishes and is also referred to as “odenbu”, “orenbu”, and “renbu”, and is similar to “gomoku mame” (=simmered soybeans with vegetables). Pre-cooked kintokimame or “kuromame” (=black soybeans) are simmered with daikon radish, “gobou” (=burdock) and other root vegetables and flavored with soy sauce and sugar. Some families and regions like to add “umeboshi” (=pickled plums) to the recipe. “Denbu” is often served on special occasions such as the new year holidays along with “zoni” (=soup containing rice cakes) made with white miso and “nishime” (=simmered vegetables). Beans are rich in protein and root vegetables are rich in fiber, which make this dish highly nutritious.