Recipe: Strawberry and Red Bean Mochi (Ichigo Daifuku)

With the long weekend coming up for Merdeka, some of you may find yourselves with more time to spare than usual. Why not use the chance to try cooking something new? This snack is perfect to munch on while chilling around. 

Strawberry and Red Bean Mochi (Ichigo Daifuku) 

by Margarita Lee

Ingredients A:

• 50g Glutinous rice flour
• 15g Cornstarch 
• 80ml Milk
• 20g Sugar

Ingredients B:

• 8 Strawberries
• 160g Red bean paste 
• 15g Butter
• 20g Cooked glutinous rice flour

 

Method:

1. Remove the stems of the strawberries, wash then dry with paper towels.
2. Divide the red bean paste into 8 potions. Mould and wrap the red bean paste around each strawberry, making sure to fully cover. Using cling wrap will make the process easier and keep the paste from sticking to your hands. Place in the refrigerator once all strawberries have been wrapped.
3. Mix Ingredients A into a bowl, stir well and strain with a fine mesh sieve. Pass the mixture 2-3 times until smooth.
4. Cover the bowl with cling wrap, then pierce a few holes using a toothpick. Steam the mixture over medium heat for 20 minutes.
5. Remove mochi from the steamer and add in butter while it is hot. This will melt the butter.
6. Wearing disposable gloves, knead the mochi until the butter is fully incorporated. 
7. Leave it to cool, then store in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
8. Sprinkle some cooked glutinous rice flour on a clean and dry chopping board or silicone mat. Divide the mochi into 8 pieces and roll out flat until each circle is around 10cm in diameter.
9. Place the strawberry wrapped with red bean paste (strawberry tip facing down) on the rolled-out mochi circle.
10. Gather the edges of the mochi circle, then wrap and cover the strawberry using well-floured hands.
11. Close the mochi ends at the top with your finger and shape it into a nice round shape.
12. Repeat the above process for the remaining mochi and strawberry. 
13. Keep each completed daifuku mochi wrapped individually in plastic wrap (this will keep them from drying out and becoming hard). Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Best eaten on the same day of preparation.

 

 Notes: 

*How to prepare cooked glutinous rice flour 

1. Stir fry glutinous rice flour in a clean dry pan for about 20 minutes or until slightly yellowish. 

 

*How to prepare red bean paste 

1. Rinse red beans, then soak them in water overnight.
2. Pour red beans and water into a pot. Bring the water to a boil then leave to simmer for about 1 hour. 
3. Add oil and sugar to taste. Stir constantly (to avoid burning) until the beans become mushy and no more liquid can be seen. 
4. Leave the paste to cool completely. Store in an air-tight container.