How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (2024)

  • Japanese

By

Chichi Wang

How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (1)

Chichi Wang

Chichi Wang wrote a variety of columns for Serious Eats including The Butcher's Cuts, in addition to other stories. Born in Shanghai and raised in New Mexico, Chichi took her degree in philosophy but decided that writing about food would be more fun than writing about Plato.

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Updated May 15, 2019

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How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (2)

This Sunday marks the Lunar New Year for the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean cultures. While no single dish can represent the diverse practices of each cuisine, rice is a common thread, a symbol of wealth and plenty. This year, I'm making mochi, which is always fashioned from glutinous sweet rice. The grains of rice develop an especially sticky surface when cooked. So sweet and dense, the kernels taste appropriately gluttonous on special occasions.

"Making mochi at home is a completely manageable, albeit sticky, activity."

In Japan and Korea, the rounds of glutinous rice, known as mochi and tteok, respectively, are indulgently gooey affairs. The cakes, which can either be sweet or savory, are steamed, pounded, or pan-fried.

Store-bought versions are usually coated with too much starch and can taste like chemicals or waxy fillings. The homemade version, however, is one of my favorite treats: soft and chewy with the sweetness of glutinous rice coming through, freshly pounded mochi is not to be missed. And, despite its opaque appearance, making mochi at home is a completely manageable, albeit sticky, activity. The steps and recipe ideas, after the jump.

Ingredients

  • Glutinous sweet rice
  • Potato or rice starch

Directions

  1. In a food processor or spice grinder, coarsely process the glutinous sweet rice. Soak the rice in a large bowl of water for an hour, then arrange the drained rice on a steamer insert fitted with muslin or cheese cloth.

    How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (3)

  2. Steam the rice for 40 to 45 minutes, until the broken grains of rice are translucent. Let rest in the steamer insert for 5 minutes.

    How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (4)

  3. With wet fingers, transfer the cooked rice to a mortar and pestle.

    Depending on the size of the bowl, you may need to complete this step in batches. Pound the rice in an up-and-down fashion for 10 minutes or so.

    As you continue to pound the rice, have a bowl of warm water ready to add to the bowl if needed. The rice should be somewhat moist, but not wet, as you pound it. By the end of the pounding process, the rice will be one cohesive, sticky mass.

    How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (5)

  4. Sprinkle potato or rice starch over your work surface. Wet your hands again and transfer the mochi to the surface. Now make sure your hands are completely dry and cleaned of residual sticky rice. Lightly knead the mochi, adding more potato starch as needed, until the mass of rice is no longer extremely sticky to the touch. Divide the mochi into 2-inch balls, rolling each around in a thin layer of starch.

    If you want to fill the mochi, use red bean paste or another filling of your choice. (I like mixing the highest-quality peanut butter and honey.) Flatten the ball of mochi and place a teaspoonful of filling in the center. Gather the ends of the circle together and roll again to form a ball with the enclosed filling. Eat as is, or proceed with toasting. In this form, the mochi can be kept underneath a wet towel for 10 to 12 hours. If you intend to the toast the mochi later, the rounds of rice can be stored for 24 hours.

    How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (6)

  5. Heat a heavy skillet or pan. Place each round of mochi onto the pan. You may either leave the mochi in its spherical form or use a spatula to flatten the mochi. Toast the bottoms of the mochi until they are golden brown, taking care not to move or disturb the balls as they cook. If the mochi is prematurely moved, the surface will not have time to harden and the balls will stick to the pan. Continue to toast the mochi on all sides.

    How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (7)

  6. Eat the plain toasted rounds of mochi dipped in soy sauce or sugar. Or, place the balls of mochi in soup for a New Year's dumpling soup, where they will absorb the flavors of the broth. Eat the soup immediately upon serving to fully experience the delicate balance of the crisp, charred surface to the gooey, soft interior. The filled and toasted rounds of mochi may be eaten as they are.

    How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (8)

Special equipment

food processor or spice grinder, mortar and pestle

How to Make Mochi by Hand Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is mochi dough made of? ›

Mochi is a bun-shaped Japanese dessert made from sweet glutinous rice flour, or mochigome. It has a soft, chewy texture that is somewhat elastic. Mochi is often flavored with matcha (or green tea powder), which gives it a light green hue.

Can you make mochi with regular flour? ›

Can you make mochi with regular flour, or without using rice or rice flour? Short answer: No. Long answer: Still no, but there are scientific reasons why. Today, I'll break down what mochi actually is, and why it can't be made without actual rice flour.

How to make mochi the traditional way? ›

First, mochigome rice is soaked overnight and then steamed; the rice is ready to be pounded when it's soft enough to be cut with a chopstick. Then, the rice is placed into a usu – a big wooden or stone bowl – and massaged into a single ball.

What type of rice is used for mochi? ›

Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of mochigome (糯米), a short-grain glutinous rice*. It's naturally white, sticky, elastic, and chewy.

Is mochi dough raw? ›

Mochi is made of mochigome, a Japanese variety of sweet glutinous rice, that is soaked overnight, steamed, pounded into dough and molded into various shapes. Some sweet mochi confections contain fillings such as bean paste, ice cream or fresh fruit.

Is mochi healthier than ice cream? ›

The average mochi ball is about 100 calories. Whereas filling up a bowl of ice cream might equate to over 350 calories, a small 100 calorie snack won't throw off your weight loss goals. A small taste of indulgence will keep you motivated and happy throughout the day.

Is homemade mochi healthy? ›

Health benefits of mochi

When you combine rice and seaweed, mochi is low in saturated fat and very low in cholesterol. It is also a good source of Vitamins A, C, E (Alpha Tocopherol), and K, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, and Phosphorus.

What is a substitute for mochi flour? ›

Tapioca flour is ideal if you're looking for a sweet rice flour substitute for baked goods. It can help create foods that require a chewy consistency, like cookies and brownies. Tapioca flour works in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute. You can also use it to make mochi at home.

How long does homemade mochi last? ›

Mochi is good for anywhere from one day up to a few months, depending on the type you purchase and the storage method used. Fresh homemade mochi typically must be eaten within a day. Fresh mochi from the store has a longer shelf-life if refrigerated and can last up to a week.

How is mochi originally made? ›

Traditionally, mochi is made by pounding steamed short-grain Japanese sticky rice, called mochigome, with a wooden mallet during a ceremony called mochitsuki. This aerates and pulverizes the rice, which is what gives mochi its beloved texture.

Why is my mochi so sticky? ›

Why is my mochi so sticky? There are a couple of reasons for sticky dough: Too much liquid was added to the batter. Not enough oil was added to the cooked dough.

What flavor is green mochi? ›

Green Tea. Sweet and refreshing, Green Tea Mochi Ice Cream has a light, subtle green tea flavor. Almost bite size, you won't feel guilty after eating a few. Try a bunch of flavors or savor your favorite one, either way delicious mochi makes the perfect dessert.

Is mochi just smashed rice? ›

Mochi is made from glutinous, short-grain rice, and to achieve its iconic texture, the rice is steamed and repeatedly smashed with traditional hammers or with the help of modern machinery.

Can I make mochi with normal rice flour? ›

While traditional mochi is made from glutinous rice, it is indeed possible to make a delicious alternative using regular rice flour.

Are mochi healthy? ›

Is Mochi Healthy? Mochi is a versatile and healthy snack, and was popular amongst rice farmers and Samurai for increasing stamina and for its convenient format. Mochi is one of the few carbohydrate sources that is packed with protein, and is free from cholesterol.

What is mochi bread made of? ›

Mochi bread (麻波波糬), is a no-flour type of bread, made with glutinous rice and tapioca starch, which give them a chewy bouncy texture. There are a lot of version, some flavored with cheese, chocolate, green tea and some stuffed with dried berries and fruits.

What are the raw materials of mochi? ›

Mochi (もち, 餅) [motɕi] is a Japanese rice cake made of mochigome (もち米), a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The steamed rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape.

What is original mochi filled with? ›

In its traditional form, this kind of Mochi is filled with sweet red bean paste, but in a more modernized version, pastel-colored mochi dough is wrapped around mini scoops of ice cream to make some of the prettiest frozen treats in town.

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