Pancake with sweet adzuki bean paste

Ingredients for sweet adzuki bean paste:

1 cup dried adzuki beans

3/4 cup granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

Ingredients for pancake:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 egg

1.25 cups milk

Oil

Pinch of salt

Method for sweet adzuki bean paste:
Rinse and soak dried adzuki beans in cold water overnight. Drain some water so that the beans are just covered. Pressure cook and allow to cool. Blend the beans with granulated sugar till smooth.

Transfer half the blended contents to a saucepan on high heat. Add a pinch of salt. Stir with a wooden spoon till the liquid starts to boil. Reduce heat to moderate and continue to stir till most of the liquid has evaporated. Transfer the mixture to a large plate and allow to cool.

Method for pancake:
Mix the flour and pinch of salt in a medium-sized bowl. Make a well in the centre. Add the egg and milk and whisk till smooth. Let mixture rest at room temperature for one hour.

Lightly oil and heat a non-stick frying pan. Pour 1-2 tablespoons of the batter and spread evenly. Cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, or until the underside is golden. Flip the pancakes over and cook the other side.

Thinly spread the sweet adzuki bean paste over the pancake and serve warm. Makes 20.

Variations: Serve some pancakes with lemon juice and spinkled sugar, or with green tea ice-cream and sweet adzuki bean paste.