How to Make Japanese Wagashi : Nerikiri Recipe (2024)

Home » Recipes » By Course » Dessert » How to Make Japanese Wagashi : Nerikiri Recipe

January 19, 2021February 1, 2024

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This wagashi recipe makes incredibly easy and beautiful Japanese nerikiri. Featuring homemade shiro-an (white bean paste) and sweet rice flour, this authentic wagashi recipe is sure to please and impress!

RELATED: Get a FREE trial of Amazon Prime to get access to 2-day grocery deliveries!

Ever since my trip to Japan, I’ve been SO in love with the art of Japanese cooking. After all, it’s clear that the Japanese people have a way of making food, well, truly an art.

While I was in Japan, I ate lots of Japanese delicacies – and each bite seemed to be better than the one before! If you don’t believe me, check out this post to see some of the food I ate (and why I think they are GORGEOUS).

So in honor of Japanese delicacies, I’m excited to share with you a recipe for what I think is the most beautiful and artful of all Japanese Wagashi: the Nerikiri!

Table of Contents hide

1 What is Nerikiri Wagashi?

2 Ingredients to Make Japanese Nerikiri Wagashi

2.1 For the Shiro-an (White Bean Paste)

2.2 For the Nerikiri Wagashi

What is Nerikiri Wagashi?

According to Bokksu, a premium Japanese snack subscription program:

Wagashiis a broad term used to describe traditional Japanese confections that are typically enjoyed with green tea. Wagashi translates to “Japanese sweets” or “Japanese snacks” …There are many variations of wagashi, but… common types of wagashi include mochi,daif*cku,nerikiri, andrakugan.

And today, we’ll be sharing a simple recipe to make Nerikiri Wagashi, which is made with white bean paste and sweet rice flour.

In my opinion, Nerikiri is one of the most “instragammable” type of Wagashi. Don’t you think?

How to Make Japanese Wagashi : Nerikiri Recipe (1)

Ingredients to Make Japanese Nerikiri Wagashi

For the Shiro-an (White Bean Paste)

8 oz lima beans, soaked for 12 hours and skin discarded
¾cupsgranulated sugar
¼tspsalt

For the Nerikiri Wagashi

1¼tbspsweet rice flour (I like this one)
1½tbspwater
1½tspsugar
1cupshiro-an(white bean paste)

How to Make Japanese Nerikiri Wagashi

For the Shiro-an (White Bean Paste)

Add the soaked lima beansinto a large pot, then add enough water to barely cover the beans. Simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until beans are soft (you can also cook it in a pressure cooker, like thisInstant Pot, for 15-20 minutes)
Once done, drain the water and blend the tender lima beans in afood processor.
Working in batches, transfer a portion of the bean puree to afine-meshed strainer. Using a spatula or spoon, press the beans through the strainer to produce a smooth white bean paste.
Into a medium saucepan, add in sugar, salt, and the white bean paste. Cook on medium-low heat, and stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture becomes a moldable paste, about 15-20 minutes.
Turn off the heat, then transfer theshiro-aninto a large plate or container.

For the Nerikiri Wagashi

In a medium pot over medium heat, mix sweet rice flour, water, and sugar with a wooden spatula.
Add in the shiro-an (white bean paste). Continue to mix until a tacky, moldable dough forms.
Turn off heat, then transfer nerikiri to a plate or baking sheet to cool.
Once cool, split the “dough” and place in different bowls/containers to color with food dye.
Shape the nerikiri wagashi in different forms. ENJOY!

How to Make Japanese Wagashi : Nerikiri Recipe (2)

Looking for More Japanese Inspiration?

5 Epic Things To Do in Japan
5+ Unexpected Food You Need to Eat in Japan

Hungry for More Asian Dessert Recipes?

Simple Ube Ice Cream (GF, V)
Purple Sweet Potato Klepon (Indonesian Sweet Rice Ball)
Balinese Milk Tarts (Pie Susu)
Matcha Granola Clumps (GF, DF)
Señorita Bread Recipe (Filipino Spanish Bread)
Pink Power Pitaya Smoothie Bowl (GF, DF, V)
Dark Chocolate Coconut Granola (GF, DF, V)
Indian Masala Chai Spiced Overnight Oats
Tropical Mermaid Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl

Subscribe to DWELLand get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! In addition, follow along on Pinterest, FacebookandInstagramto get all the latest updates!

If you make this Japanese Nerikiri Wagashi recipe, please drop a comment below! I’d LOVE to know what you think! Or take a picture and share it on Instagram by tagging@dwellbymichelle!

Japanese Wagashi Recipe : Nerikiri

DWELL by Michelle

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 18 nerikiri wagashi

Calories 131 kcal

Ingredients

For the Shiro-an (White Bean Paste)

8 oz lima beans, , soaked for 12 hours and skin discarded
¾ cups granulated sugar
¼ tsp salt

For the Nerikiri Wagashi

1 ¼ tbsp sweet rice flour (I like this one)
1 ½ tbsp water
1 ½ tsp sugar
1 cup shiro-an (white bean paste)

Instructions

For the Shiro-an (White Bean Paste)

Add the soaked lima beans into a large pot, then add enough water to barely cover the beans. Simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until beans are soft (you can also cook it in a pressure cooker, like this Instant Pot, for 15-20 minutes)
Once done, drain the water and blend the tender lima beans in a food processor.
Working in batches, transfer a portion of the bean puree to a fine-meshed strainer. Using a spatula or spoon, press the beans through the strainer to produce a smooth white bean paste.
Into a medium saucepan, add in sugar, salt, and the white bean paste. Cook on medium-low heat, and stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture becomes a moldable paste, about 15-20 minutes.
Turn off the heat, then transfer the shiro-an into a large plate or container.

For the Nerikiri Wagashi

In a medium pot over medium heat, mix sweet rice flour (I like this one), water, and sugar with a wooden spatula.
Add in the shiro-an (white bean paste). Continue to mix until a tacky, moldable dough forms.
Turn off heat, then transfer nerikiri to a plate or baking sheet to cool.
Once cool, split the "dough" and place in different bowls/containers to color with food dye .
Shape the nerikiri wagashi in different forms. ENJOY!

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal

Keyword dairy-free, Gluten-Free, japanese dessert, japanese recipes, lima beans, mochiko, nerikiri, plant-based snack, sweet rice flour, vegan candy, wagashi recipe, what to do with rice flour, white bean paste

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

This post may contain affiliate links.Please read mydisclosure policy.