Steamed Manju (Hawaiian Sweet Bean Cakes)

Steamed cakes filled with a red bean paste (made from boiled azuki beans and sugar). Hawaiian version of a traditional Japanese confection.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 25

Ingredients

• 1 (18 ounce) can  tsubushi-an (red azuki bean paste)
• 3 1⁄2 cups flour or 3 1⁄2 cups  rice flour
• 4  teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 3  egg whites (unbeaten)
• 1⁄2 cup  vegetable oil
• 1⁄2 cup milk

Directions

1. Form bean paste into 25 balls each about the size of a walnut.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and sugar.
3. Add egg whites and oil to dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Add milk while stirring (dough should be soft but not runny and not too sticky) (coloring may be added as well, if desired).
5. Divide dough into 25 equal portions and flatten each to a 3-inch diameter.
6. Cover each bean paste ball with a portion of dough.
7. Place them on pieces of Ti leaf or 2x2-inch square pieces of waxed paper.
8. Steam for 15 minutes.