Saturday, July 19, 2014

Warabi Mochi


I got an idea to try and recreate the $15/6 kinako mochi that I bought at J-shop. I ended up making this.  For real!

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I found this package on the clearance table at Nijiya. It says Warabi Mochi Tezukuri Set (I think). I saw that it contained kinako and I thought that it might be similar.  It was only $1.49 so I bought it.   
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The "set" contained a pack of this warabi mochi powder (or flour not sure about the kanji).
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And kinako.  That's it.  What kind of "set" is that, yah?  The instructions were in Japanese so I took it to Geri's working place and asked her coworker to translate it for me. I also found this site with instructions:  TGIB.
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I put the warabi mochi powder (about 1 cup), 1/3 cup of sugar and 2 cups of water on high heat. I stirred and stirred and stirred until it started to thicken.  Then I lowered the heat to medium.  When it got kinda translucent I took it off the stove.
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I let it cool a bit and then put it on some plastic wrap. I was afraid it would melt the wrap if I put it on too soon. I covered it with three layers of wrap.
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Then threw it in an ice bath to cool.
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After it cooled off I cut it with a plastic knife and then tossed the pieces in the kinako with a bit of powdered sugar added.
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I made the sugar syrup by boiling 2 tbs. of brown sugar with 1 tbs. of water. 
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It tasted really good, but I didn't like the texture.  It wasn't sticky enough for me.  I waited until Geri got home from work and brought some over to her house.  I wanted her opinion.  She said that the texture was a little different from regular mochi, but she liked it, and she proceeded to eat around three pieces in a row to prove it.   
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If you wanna try and make some for yourself, I saw this warabi mochi flour at Marukai.  It was around $2 something. 
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17 comments:

K and S said...

love warabi mochi!

jalna said...

Kat, I went and ate another piece after reading your comment to give it another chance. Still . . . meh . . .

Mark Shelby said...

Nice! Every time I see your Japanese packages Jalna...it reminds me of when I used to play Hanafuda with my friends at Kahala Elementary!.....hehe

jalna said...

Such a neat memory, Mark!

Leslie's pics said...

awesome!! maybe you gotta find another brand...so neat though!

Anonymous said...

j: maybe it's the method of cooking? The only ways I know how to cook mochi is steam or microwave not in a pot. But then I'm not a mochi maker either. I give you credit for trying to duplicate it. Mochi is pretty cheap to make but so expen$ive in the stores IMO.

I use to help make mochi before New Years and it was machine made not by pounding but it was pretty good cuz we could add whatever filling we wanted other than an and as much as possible. Mochi made this way hardens in only one day due to no chemicals. But the taste wasn't that special.

For someone who doesn't cook you doing pretty darn well. -N

jalna said...

I was thinking the same thing, Les. Maybe . . .

N, I was wondering about cooking it the same way but using mochiko. Do you think it would work?

Anonymous said...

Nice make over recipe for mochi!!!
i'm gonna hunting for mochi powder now....

jalna said...

Hey chef, not sure if this method will work with regular mochi powder.

Anonymous said...

J: I tried googling making mochi and went thru a few and none mentioned making it in a pot on the stove. Either microwave or baking. I dunno if it's the flour that was close to expiring on the method.

Before microwaves, I use to have to steam it and then set it overnight in the 'old dayz'. Was a pain to do.

What if you change the cooking method but add all the other goodies as it's the texture that wasn't good.

You making me ono for some mochi, J! -N

jalna said...

I'm thinking exactly that, N. Make mochiko kine mochi in the microwave and then eat with kinako and syrup.

Anonymous said...

I ate a lot of warabi mochi when I was in Japan. I never thought to make it myself. Here is one recipe I found online I might try. She also explains the differences in the various starches you can use. So interesting.

http://chocolateandzucchini.com/recipes/cookies-small-cakes/warabi-mochi-recipe/

Winnie

jalna said...

Thanks Winnie! That was interesting. I wonder if I didn't cook mine long enough. Mine wasn't completely translucent like how hers was.

Nippon Nin said...

Looks so good...maybe I have not had afternoon snack today but looks very delicious! Thank you so much for the link. I love to try the recipe.
Ha ha ha...I'm laughing hard reading Anonymous comment.

jalna said...

I hope you get to try making it, Akemi!

Mokihana said...

Looks pretty 'ono to me!!

jalna said...

My sister did like it, Moki!