This recipe transforms simple steamed rice into soft, chewy, mochi-like rice cakes. By mashing and cooking the steamed rice in a boiling water, it break down into a sticky, smooth dough that resembles traditional mochi in texture. Perfect as a base for both sweet or savory toppings, these rice cakes make a quick and satisfying treat. Kinako (roasted soybean powder) and sugar is the simplest topping for skewered Dango, but you can also use sweet red bean paste (Anko) or Mitarashi sauce. For a toasty flavor, try searing the cakes in a frying pan. No special tools or ingredients are required, making this an easy way to enjoy the taste and texture of homemade mochi using just cooked rice. Hope you give it a try!
Warabimochi (Warabi Mochi, わらび餅) is a traditional Japanese dessert (wagashi) made from warabiko, a starch extracted from warabi (bracken) roots. The pure 100% warabi starch is rare today, but you can buy warabiko mixed with various kinds of starch such as sweet potato flour, usually sold as Warabimochiko (Warabi Mochi Ko).
We added more water and a bit more sugar than our original Warabi Mochi recipe and made it softer and sweeter. In addition to kinako (soybean flour) topping, kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) is poured on top. Served with green tea, it’s a fantastic dessert or a snack in the afternoon.
Kakigori (かき氷) is Japanese shaved ice, usually with flavored syrup on top like strawberry and Matcha syrups. It is very popular during the hot and humid summer in Japan, and there are a lot of pop-up Kakigori stores appearing in the season. And that’s been a favorite way for everyone to cool off during those unbearable days and months for many years there.
Abekawa Mochi is a famous regional food of Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo. It is freshly cooked Mochi coated with Kinako soybean powder and sugar. This simple Mochi dessert is popular in the area of course and everywhere in Japan. Abekawa Mochi is found in Wagashi Japanese sweet shops and supermarkets, but it is quite easy to make at home too.
Warabi Mochi is a cool and smooth Mochi-like dessert, typically with Kinako (powdered soy bean) and sugar. The refreshing look of translucent/transparent Warabi Mochi and the cold sensation of it going down your throat have been enjoyed by people for a thousand years during Japan’s hot and humid summer.