Red bean brownies! LOW FAT!!!**

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup butter (55g)
55g red bean paste
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup macademia nuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour (using cocoa powder) an 8 inch square pan.
In a large saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, red bean paste, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Add nuts if using. Spread batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.

Recipe modified from here

Comments:
when i read somewhere that beans can be used as to replace fat in recipes, i was very intrigued with the theory and dug out my most reliable brownie recipe to test it out. I made two batches, one regular and one with half fat, half red bean paste.
Out ff 10 people, only 1 could guess correctly which one was the low fat brownie and she wasn't very sure too...

:) So it's a success!!!

Oh...how to cook the red bean paste?? Hmmm...for the quantity required in this recipe, i reckon u need only about 2 tbs raw red beans...soak them overnight, discard the water and then boil and then simmer them til they r soft...secret is to not add too much water initially, just an inch over them is fine...otherwise they'll stay hard..drain and mash and they r ready to be used.

**50% of the fat in this recipe has been replaced with protein with no discernible change in taste or texture!! it's about 4.5g per serve ... 4.5 g is slightly less than a tsp of fat...for brownies, that's considered v good...haa...fudge brownies can have up to 35g ???!!! Almost 2 tablespoons of fat in one slice...wow...can't believe it myself too... :P