Mochi
Japanese rice cake recipe
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Mochi (pronounced: Motschi) is a rice cake from Japan. It is usually eaten there on New Year's Eve, but is suitable as a sweet dessert all year round. In the recipe we explain how you can make the cakes yourself.
Ingredients for mochi
- 200 g sticky rice flour
- 180 ml of water
- 50 grams of sugar
- Potato starch flour
- Filling of your choice
Prepare mochis – step by step
- For the Mochis, first of all Glutinous rice flour, water and sugar Mix well together in a bowl.
- Put the liquid batter in a non-stick pan and over medium heat stir constantly with a spatula. As a result, the mass becomes more and more solid and at some point it sticks to the turner: Then the mochi dough is ready.
- The crowd immediately on one work surface floured with potato starch Shape into a roll – the potato flour prevents the dough from sticking to your fingers.
- Divide the dough into 10 pieces and roll them out into thin slices. A dollop of the filling put in the middle, wrap and shape into a ballso that the mochi is completely enclosed in the batter.
Tip: The dough is best shaped while it is hot.
Different variations and mochi fillings
The classic filling for mochis is Anko, a paste made from adzuki beans. You have to cook the beans for about 45 minutes beforehand and thicken them with sugar. When the mass is firm, it can be pureed and added to the mochis as a filling – this variant is called Daifuku.
If you like, you can also wrap strawberries in the cooled bean paste and then wrap them in the mochi batter, so you get fruity-sweet rice cakes. They are also suitable as filling Peanut butter, chocolate, and berries and cherries – here you can let off steam as you wish.
Finally, you can get the balls roll in sugar or coconut flakes. The white dough can be colored with food coloring: Matcha powder turns the mochis green, and beetroot powder you get pink to red colored rice cakes.
Use mochis with caution
Mochi is very popular as a dessert because it is gluten-free and (depending on the filling) also vegan. However, you should be careful when consuming it: the sticky cakes must chewed thoroughly before swallowing, otherwise there is a risk of suffocation. There are some known deaths in Japan, especially children and the elderly who are unable to chew as well are at risk. It is best to cut mochis into small pieces before eating them drinks a lot of water with it – then nothing stands in the way of sweet enjoyment.
Do you like Japanese cuisine? Then have a look through our recipes for edamame, ramen and miso soup.