Yōkan
Yōkan ( Japanese 羊羹 also よ う か ん ) is a dessert ( wagashi ) of Japanese cuisine . It originated during the Edo period when sugar became common in Japan. It is also used as a gift.
Yōkan is made from agar-agar ( called edging in Japanese ), sugar and ground adzuki beans . The components are mixed with water, then heated and poured into a mold, where the mass then solidifies when it cools. Usually rectangular blocks are cut from it. The food can be kept for about a week.
Yōkan is available in different variations. Sakuraan-Yōkan is particularly popular during the cherry blossom season . This is not made from anko , but from a paste made from white beans that, together with pickled cherry leaves and a red color, results in sakuraan, which is used in many ways during the cherry blossom season. There is also yōkan, which is made from sweet potatoes .
