What do you think of when you hear "Zenzai"? It's usually a warm soup with mochi and shiratama, right? But it seems that it is different in Okinawa. Speaking of "Zenzai" in Okinawa, it is shaved ice. Okinawa's "Zenzai" is made by sprinkling Kintoki beans and pressed barley sweetly boiled in brown sugar on shaved ice.
It's hard to imagine even if you say ... So, I asked an editorial staff from Okinawa to make Okinawa Zenzai. Please see, this is Okinawa's "Zenzai"!
This is Okinawa's "Zenzai"! Handmade by the editorial staff
To people other than Okinawans, it may look like "Kakigori with wheat and beans". Since there is a large amount of wheat on it, some people may mistake it for mugitoro gohan rice. But this is Okinawa's "Zenzai".
Originally in Okinawa, snacks containing pressed barley, mung beans, or Kintoki beans were called "Amagashi" or "Zenzai". After the war, the spread of refrigerators made it possible to make shaved ice, and it became what it is today.
Current appearance
Well, it's Okinawa Zenzai, but when you try it, it's delicious! Not only the sweetness of Kintoki beans, but also the soft texture of pressed barley is irresistible. This pressed barley creates a taste that is a bit different from ice azuki beans and matcha kintoki. "Eh? I can't imagine!" Run to a nearby beef tongue shop, order mugitoro gohan rice, cool it, and then put it in your mouth. Yes, that texture is the texture of Okinawa Zenzai! (I think).
It looks like a spicy Mexican bean dish, but it's actually sweet and delicious "Zenzai".
So what do you call the common "warm" zenzai in Okinawa? The correct answer is "hot zenzai".
The word "hot" zenzai feels strange. The word "hot" is a prefix (?) That is usually added to things that are not warm, such as "hot wine," "hot whiskey," and "hot sandwiches." The "hot" of "hot cake" may also correspond to this.
But "Zenzai" should be "hot" food from the beginning! But what does "hot" zenzai mean ...? ??
It's also hard to imagine this, so I asked the editorial staff from Okinawa to make it again.
This is "hot" zenzai hot
The contents of "Hot Zenzai" are the same as the shaved ice version of "Zenzai". However, it is hot. After all the texture of pressed barley is an exquisite accent!
After all, it contains Kintoki beans and pressed barley.
As for the naming, it is a "hot zenzai" that is full of tsukkomi, but the taste is good. Maybe it will be a habit if you get used to it?
By the way, women in the world will be busy selecting chocolates before Valentine's Day. But why not make Okinawan Zenzai a Valentine's gift this year? It may be effective for "Uchina-jo-gu-no-ikiga-". Oh, by the way, "Uchina-jo-gu-no-ikiga-" means "Okinawa-loving boyfriend".
Yeah, the taste of Okinawa!
