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Thinking of mochi brings the picture of a chewy, sweet treat that's filled with delicious cream. However, mochi can be more than that and there are plenty of ways to enjoy it.
Made from glutinous, short-grain rice, these soft chewy rice balls go through a strenuous process of hours of pounding to achieve the ideal texture. Pounding the steamed rice activates the stickiness in gluten, which helps in giving it the characteristic shape, size and bright colour with a unique consistency. When reheated, these mochi can change their shape into different textures too, allowing you to make many recipes out of it.
There are numerous types of mochi, from classic versions to modern and fusion creations. Whether you’ve been enjoying mochi for years and want to explore more, or you’re eager to try it for the first time, here are some different ways to enjoy mochi with various flavours.
1) Crunchy Butter Mochi
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Butter mochi is made by combining coconut milk with glutinous rice flour and butter. This recipe originated in Hawaii when Japanese immigrants started introducing their flavours to Hawaiian cuisine. Other ingredients like eggs, baking powder and vanilla extracts bring structure to mochi, make it light and add the flavour. When the batter is baked, the upper layer becomes crispy and delicious and the coconut flavour with richness of butter makes it irresistible.
2) Mochi Doughnuts
Mochi doughnuts, also known as "pon de ring'' doughnuts in Japan, are a fusion dish made by mixing up Japanese mochi with American-style doughnuts. Imagine your classic sugar-glazed doughnuts but with a chewy texture, these mochi doughnuts feel like heaven in every bite. The shape of mochi doughnuts resembles a flower with eight small connected balls and a hollow centre.
3) Sakura Mochi
Sakura or cherry blossom tree is what gives sakura mochi its characteristic pink colour and floral flavour. Sakura is a widely used condiment in Japanese cuisine which brings a subtle floral flavour that reminds of spring. Sakura mochi infuses sakura petals paste in mochi and the balls are wrapped with sakura leaves gigging a green contrast to pink balls.
4) Daifuku
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Daifuku is a traditional Japanese sweet which features soft, chewy mochi filled with a sweet centre, commonly red bean paste (anko). There are several filling variations for daifuku like white bean paste, fruit, or even ice cream. It is enjoyed all over the US and Japan and is celebrated for its contrasting texture of chewy outside and rich core, making every bite satisfying.
5) Mochi Waffles
Mochi waffles or moffles is a blend of waffles and mochi made from mochiko (sweet rice flour). The combination of chewy texture of mochi with the crispy exterior of traditional waffles makes it an irresistible treat. Often enjoyed with toppings like syrup, fruit, or ice cream, this treat can be made at home easily if you have a waffle maker.
6) Grilled Mochi
Mochi cakes, when grilled, become utterly delicious with a crusty smoky exterior and chewy stretchable interior. Grilled mochi has been an American and Japanese favourite for many years and is widely enjoyed with soy sauce, wrapped in seaweed (isobe maki), or glazed with a sweet soy sauce (mitarashi).
