Jenna's New Years Traditions

Traditions fascinate me, especially when they are linked to notions of good luck and prosperity.

Perhaps that is why I like New Year's so much -- it is a time when such traditions abound all around the world. Black eyed peas in the South, grapes in Spain, whole fish in China, long noodles all around Asia.

Photo Courtesy Norecipes.com

One tradition I've held in my Japanese (by way of Hawaii)-American family since I can remember is eating at least one kuromame bean on New Year's Day. This is a Japanese tradition believed to bring the eater health and success. While the beans are really quite sweet, as a child the slick, shiny black beans intimidated me and I can remember making a big fuss on New Year's when the beans were unveiled. I pouted for a bit then relented to my gently encouraging mother, with a dramatic display of eating exactly one bean with my thumb and forefinger, other fingers splayed far away for fear of contamination, and the fingers on the other hand firmly pinching my nose closed so I would taste as little of the bean's flavor as possible.

Now that I'm an adult, I remember those days with a sense of awe, because when the bowl of kuromame hits the table, it takes quite a bit of willpower for me to take just a few and leave plenty for the others in the family. And that's not because I'm greedy for heath and success -- which I should probably spend more time thinking about -- but because they are just so darn delicious one or two or seven is simply just not enough. Even canned, these tiny beans have a pleasing al dente texture, a sweet flavor balanced by a subtle savoriness from chestnuts and small pieces of seaweed (a technique in Japan when cooking beans, to increase their digestibility and add a nice flavor and body to the cooking liquid).

I have never made my own before, but I found this page with a recipe I will try out tonight. The author, like me, is multicultural, and I related to his story with misty eyes. His info on kuromame is also so solid I can't beat it - find out more about this bean and how to prepare it here: http://norecipes.com/blog/kuromame-black-soy-beans/

These beans are available prepared in cans at Asian markets, as are the dried beans you can prepare yourself -- try the recipe with me, and let me know what you think! 

Also, tell me: what are your New Year's food traditions?

I look forward to reading your stories, and trying your recipes. In the meantime, Happy New Year! Akimashite Omedetou! Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

By Jenna Zimmerman