Mochi are iconic Japanese sweets: soft, elastic, slightly sticky and surprisingly delicate to the bite. In this homemade version you prepare them “giant” and filled with cream and strawberries, for a fresh and delicious result. Behind that innocent appearance, however, there is a very particular consistency, which must be eaten with care: it is precisely their elasticity that makes them famous… and, if ingested without chewing well, even risky.
Ingredients
For the dough:
For the filling:
Procedure
Prepare the filling
Whip the cream with the icing sugar until you obtain a soft but stable consistency. Wash the strawberries and dry them well.
Wrap each strawberry in a little cream into balls and place them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes: it will be much easier to assemble the mochi.
Prepare the dough
In a bowl, mix glutinous rice flour, sugar and water until you obtain a smooth mixture without lumps. Pour into a heatproof container, cover and steam for 20–25 minutes.
Halfway through cooking you can stir to uniform the consistency. When ready, the dough will become translucent, thick and very sticky.
Work the mochi
Sprinkle plenty of cornstarch onto a work surface. Transfer the dough while it is still hot (be careful: it is hot) and sprinkle on top too. Roll it out gently and divide it into portions.
Filling
Take a portion, crush it with your hands forming a disc. Place a scoop of cream and strawberry in the center. Close the mochi by pinching the edges and sealing well. Flip for a smooth surface.
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♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – kittikmr – veesun95
Important tips (not to be ignored)
How to serve them
Mochi lend themselves to different serving methods, all simple but effective. You can offer them at room temperature to enhance their softness, or slightly cold from the refrigerator if you prefer a more compact and fresh consistency.
For presentation, they work great on a cake stand or arranged neatly on a tray. If you want to give a more refined touch, arrange them in small colored baking cups: as well as being practical, they enhance the clean and minimal look of these sweets.
They are ideal at the end of a light meal, but also for a more relaxed break. The most natural pairing is with a cup of tea, black or green, which balances the sweetness and recalls the Japanese atmosphere without too many twists.
