View source for Shiruko

{{Short description|Japanese dessert}}
{{italic title}}

{{Infobox food
| name             = ''Shiruko''
| image            = Oshiruko with genmai mochi.jpg
| image_size       = 300px
| caption          = ''Shiruko'' with ''[[genmai]]'' ''[[mochi]]''
| alternate_name   = 
| country          = [[Japan]]
| region           = 
| creator          = 
| course           = [[Dessert]]
| type             = 
| served           = Hot, cold
| main_ingredient  = [[Azuki beans]], ''[[mochi]]'', [[sugar]]
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
| similar_dish     = ''Zenzai'', ''[[hong dou tang]]'', ''[[patjuk]]''
| other            = 
}}

{{nihongo||{{linktext|汁粉}}|'''Shiruko'''}}, or {{nihongo||お汁粉|oshiruko}} with the [[Honorific speech in Japanese#Word beautification|honorific]] {{nihongo||お|o}}, is a traditional [[Japanese cuisine|Japanese]] [[dessert]].<ref name="uwajimaya">{{cite web|url=http://www.uwajimaya.com/glossary.asp?PrimaryName=shiruko+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++&Alpha=S+++++++++|title= shiruko Japanese|publisher=Uwajimaya|access-date=2007-11-13 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071121182210/http://www.uwajimaya.com/glossary.asp?PrimaryName=shiruko+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++&Alpha=S+++++++++ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-11-21}}</ref> It is a sweet porridge of [[azuki bean]]s boiled and crushed, served in a bowl with {{Transliteration|ja|[[Mochi (food)|mochi]]}}.<ref name="uwajimaya"/><ref name="nipponia">{{cite web|url=http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia28/en/appetit/index.html|title=Shiruko: Sweet Bean Soup to Warm You Up in Cold Weather|first=Hiromi|last=Otani|date=2004-03-15|url-status=live|archive-date=16 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016131719/http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia28/en/appetit/index.html|access-date=2007-11-13 |publisher=Nipponia No.28 on Web Japan}}</ref> There are different styles of {{Transliteration|ja|shiruko}}, such as {{Transliteration|ja|shiruko}} with candied [[chestnut]]s, or with [[glutinous rice]] flour [[dumpling]]s instead of {{Transliteration|ja|mochi}}.

The half-melted sticky {{Transliteration|ja|mochi}} and the sweet, warm red bean porridge is enjoyed by many Japanese, especially during the winter.<ref name="nipponia"/> {{Transliteration|ja|Shiruko}} is frequently served with a side dish of something sour or salty, such as {{Transliteration|ja|[[umeboshi]]}} or {{Transliteration|ja|[[kombu|shiokombu]]}}, to refresh the palate as {{Transliteration|ja|shiruko}} is so sweet that the taste may cloy after a while.

== Types ==
There are two types of {{Transliteration|ja|shiruko}} based on different methods of cooking azuki beans. Azuki beans may be turned into paste, crushed without keeping their original shape, or a mix of paste and roughly crushed beans.<ref name="nipponia"/>

There is a similar dish, {{nihongo||{{linktext|善哉}}/ぜんざい|zenzai}}, which is made from condensed paste with heat and is less watery than {{Transliteration|ja|shiruko}}, like making jam or marmalade. In Western Japan, {{Transliteration|ja|zenzai}} refers to a type of {{Transliteration|ja|shiruko}} made from a mixture of paste and crushed beans.<ref name="nipponia"/> In Okinawa, the term {{Transliteration|ja|zenzai}} commonly refers to this bean soup served over shaved ice with {{Transliteration|ja|mochi}}. Other toppings, such as [[sweetened condensed milk]], are occasionally added for flavor.

In [[Tottori Prefecture]] and [[Shimane Prefecture]], {{Transliteration|ja|shiruko}} is also used for {{Transliteration|ja|[[Zoni soup|zōni]]}}, the special soup for New Year celebration.

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" widths="160px" heights="160px">
File:Shiruko(Zenzai)6.jpg
File:Zenzai and tea set at Shirasagido, Himeji.jpg
File:Japanese zenzai with rice cake.JPG
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Hong dou tang]]
* [[Patjuk]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Japanese food and drink}}

[[Category:Japanese desserts and sweets]]
[[Category:Legume desserts]]


{{Japan-cuisine-stub}}