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Mochi

17/11/2023

Mochi is a traditional Japanese sweet, usually eaten during New Year’s but now popular all year round. It is made with glutinous rice flour and can be filled with various ingredients, like anko (sweet azuki bean paste), chocolate, or ice cream.

Here’s how to make traditional mochi:

Ingredients

  • 200g of glutinous rice flour (shiratamako or mochiko)
  • 200ml of water
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar
  • Corn or potato starch (for dusting and preventing sticking)
  • Anko (sweet azuki bean paste), as filling (optional)

Preparation

  1. In a large bowl, mix the glutinous rice flour with the sugar.
  2. Gradually add water until a smooth dough is formed.
  3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and make holes to let the steam escape.
  4. Put the bowl in the microwave and cook on high for 2 minutes. Alternatively, you can cook the dough in a double boiler or steam it while covered, until it becomes translucent, for about 15-20 minutes.
  5. Once cooked, transfer the dough onto a surface dusted with corn or potato starch to prevent sticking.
  6. Divide the dough into small portions, shape each into a round disc.
  7. If you wish to add filling, place a small amount of anko in the center of each flattened portion.
  8. Fold the dough around the filling and seal it, shaping it into a nice round form.
  9. To finish, dust some starch on the mochi to prevent them from sticking to each other.

Tips: It is recommended to work with the dough while it’s still warm, but be careful not to burn yourself. Using kitchen gloves can be helpful. Mochi are best enjoyed fresh, but they can also be stored for a few days in an airtight container.

For an Italian touch, you might try filling your mochi with lightly sweetened mascarpone or Nutella, for a fusion of Italy and Japan on the plate!

Curiosity

In Japan, there’s a tradition called “mochitsuki” which involves making mochi in a very laborious way: the glutinous rice is pounded in a mortar (usu) with large mallets (kine) until it becomes very smooth and homogeneous. This process is often carried out communally during celebrations.

Mochi