These sweet potato pancakes filled with sweet red bean paste are one of my favorite ways to enjoy sweet potato. The natural sweetness of the potato and the smooth, textured red bean paste form a perfect balance for a comforting snack or dessert.
What do sweet potato pancakes with red bean filling taste like?
The pancakes are warm, soft, and slightly chewy. The exterior develops a light crisp while the interior remains tender with a textured sweet red bean filling—similar in texture to mashed sweet beans. The dough itself contains no added sugar since the sweet potato provides enough sweetness and pairs beautifully with the red bean paste.
Ingredients
This recipe uses only 3 main ingredients, plus a couple of pantry basics.
- sweet potatoes
- glutinous rice flour
- sweetened red bean paste
Where to buy sweetened red bean paste
Sweetened red bean paste is commonly available at Japanese or other Asian grocery stores. If you don’t have a local market nearby, many brands are also sold online. I used a canned ogura-an style red bean paste for convenience; it keeps well and can be used for other desserts like mochi.
Cooking the sweet potato
You can boil or steam the sweet potato. Boiling is quick and simple; steaming helps retain more flavor and prevents excess water absorption. In either case, cook the potato until tender and easily pierced with a fork, then drain thoroughly before mashing.
Mixing the dough
Mash the cooked sweet potato in a bowl, then gradually add glutinous rice flour. Stir with a spoon or wooden masher until it comes together, then knead gently by hand to remove lumps and form a smooth, soft dough. Add the flour slowly so the dough doesn’t become dry.
Assembling the sweet potato pancakes
Divide the dough into about seven equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball and flatten it into a disc. Place about one tablespoon of sweet red bean paste in the center, fold the dough around the filling to seal it completely, then roll it gently into a smooth ball and flatten again into a pancake shape. Smooth any cracks with your fingers so the filling stays enclosed.
Similar recipes you will LOVE:
- sweet potato sesame balls with red bean filling
Watch my video tutorial below!
Sweet Potato Pancakes with Red Bean Filling
- Author: Jasmine and Tea
Yield: 7 pancakes 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- ⅔ cup glutinous rice flour (85g)
- 1 sweet potato (350g)
- sweetened red bean paste
- salt for boiling water
- oil for shallow frying
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt.
- Peel the sweet potato and cut into 1-inch cubes. Add to the boiling water and cook about 18 minutes, or until tender and easily pierced with a fork. Drain and transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Mash the sweet potato, then add the glutinous rice flour. Mix with a utensil, then knead with your hands until you have a soft, smooth dough.
- Divide the dough into 7 pieces. Roll each into a ball and flatten. Place about 1 tablespoon of red bean paste in the center, enclose it fully, then reshape and flatten into a pancake.
- Heat a thin layer of oil in a pan over medium to medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the pancakes and cook about 3.5 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel if desired, let cool slightly, and enjoy.