Give plain mochi a scrumptious umami punch with my straightforward Isobeyaki Mochi with Cheese. Dipped in soy sauce and wrapped in nori seaweed, it’s a preferred technique to get pleasure from glutinous rice muffins as a satisfying snack on Japanese New 12 months or anytime.
The Japanese have many scrumptious methods to arrange plain mochi. Right now, I’ll present you ways I make pan-grill Japanese glutinous rice muffins filled with cheese in my Isobeyaki Mochi with Cheese recipe. It’s crispy, chewy, melty, and savoryâand it simply would possibly turn into your new favourite mochi.
For those who love Japanese rice muffins, strive my recipes for Ozoni, Udon Noodle Soup with Toasted Mochi (Chikara Udon), and Zenzai (Candy Pink Bean Soup with Mochi)!
What’s Isobeyaki Mochi?
Isobeyaki (磯辺ç¼ã) mochi is grilled or pan-fried Japanese glutinous rice muffins referred to as yakimochi that we soak in soy sauce and wrap in nori (dried laver seaweed). Dishes made with nori and elements harvested from the coast are named isobe, which suggests “seashore” in Japanese. It’s fashionable in jap Japan to arrange yakimochi with soy sauce and nori, whereas soy sauce with sugar is extra widespread in western Japan.
Why I Love This Recipe
- It’s bursting with umami. I really like the wealthy and salty taste from the mixture of cheese, soy sauce, and nori. Collectively, they ship a 1-2-3 savory punch!
- The chewy and melty textures are so satisfying. The recent mochi melts the cheese stuffing for a stretchy cheese pull!
- It’s fast and simple to make. I take advantage of shelf-stable kiri mochi (see beneath) that I at all times have in my pantry, so it’s prepared in simply minutes.
Substances for Isobeyaki Mochi
Discover the printable recipe with measurements beneath.
Substitutions
- Mochi: This recipe requires convenient kiri mochi (åãé¤ , also kirimochi) that’s lower, dried, and individually wrapped. You’ll find it in Japanese grocery shops and on Amazon. This “lower mochi” shops properly and is what Japanese households use to arrange mochi at residence. It’s really easy to make use of, and it’s the subsequent smartest thing to recent. For those who wish to make recent mochi at residence, observe my information on How to Make Mochi with a Stand Mixer.
- Nori: I used crispy ajitsuke nori (å³ä»ãæµ·è) that’s seasoned with soy sauce, sugar, and salt. For those who don’t have it, you may lower items of plain seaweed sheets which are usually used for sushi rolls. For those who’re not keen on seaweed, go forward and skip it.
- Cheese: You should utilize any sort of sliced cheese. In Japan, it’s widespread to make use of processed cheese present in any grocery retailer. On this recipe, I used sliced mozzarella, however you should utilize Swiss, provolone, Muenster, Brie…the choices are infinite.
- Soy sauce: Use tamari soy sauce for gluten-free.
The right way to Make Isobeyaki Mochi
Preparation
Step 1 â Make the candy soy sauce. Add the soy sauce and sugar to a glass bowl and warmth within the microwave till the sugar melts. Stir properly to dissolve.
Cooking
Step 2 â Begin grilling the mochi. Line a chilly frying pan with parchment paper and set the mochi items on high. Activate the warmth to medium-low and canopy with a lid.
Step 3 â Press down on the mochi when it puffs on the underside. It will encourage toasting marks on the underside floor. Then, grill them on the opposite aspect till puffed and comfortable within the center.
Assemble
Step 4 â Smash the toasted mochi and season. Flatten the puffed-up mochi along with your palm. Then, coat generously within the candy soy sauce.
Step 5 â Wrap nori across the seasoned mochi. The dried seaweed sheet will adhere to the moistened mochi. Serve with chopsticks and luxuriate in!
Step 6 â (Non-obligatory) Stuff it with cheese. After seasoning it, pull to increase the new mochi, then fold it over the sliced cheese. Wrap within the nori and serve.
Nami’s Recipe Suggestions
- Prepare dinner the mochi till it’s comfortable within the center â You’ll realize it’s finished when the mochi puffs up. It ought to take about 5â6 minutes per aspect to get comfortable on the within and crispy exterior.
- Serve whereas itâs scorching â As soon as itâs heated and flavored, get pleasure from it instantly. The grilled rice cake will begin to harden because it cools, so serve it scorching for the perfect chewy texture!
Variations and Customizations
- Sprinkle Japanese seven spice. For some additional warmth, add the Japanese chili seasoning powder referred to as shichimi togarashi to style.
- Make butter soy sauce. Warmth a pat of butter along with your soy sauce and sugar within the microwave. The additional richness goes so properly with the salty and umami flavors.
- Stuff it with a special filling. As an alternative of cheese, strive filling the mochi with natto (Japanese fermented soybeans).
- Use agency tofu as an alternative of mochi. Sandwich some cheese between two slices of agency tofu. Fry each side in oil till browned, dip in soy sauce, and wrap in nori. You can too make isobeyaki with fish cake, scallops, potatoes, and potato mochi!
What to Serve with Isobeyaki Mochi
- With a scorching beverage â Be taught How to Make Japanese Green Tea for a comfortable drink to accompany your isobeyaki mochi!
- With different mochi â I grew up consuming plain mochi on New 12 months’s Day in three totally different flavors AND in Ozoni soup! See how you can make candy purple bean paste (anko) mochi together with kinako mochi in my submit How to Enjoy Japanese Mochi.
Storage Suggestions
To retailer: Itâs finest to cook dinner the mochi proper earlier than you serve it, as it’ll harden because it cools. I like to recommend getting ready solely as a lot isobeyaki mochi as you may devour.
Regularly Requested Questions
You possibly can if you want. Plain soy sauce is definitely a preferred model of isobeyaki in jap Japan. Alternatively, you may customise it with honey or your most popular sweetener.Â
It’s not needed or conventional to take action. In Japan, we preserve issues easy when it comes to isobeyaki!
Extra Mochi Recipes
For those who love this Isobeyaki Mochi with Cheese, youâre in for a deal with with these different irresistible mochi recipes.
Forestall your display from going darkish
To Make the Candy Soy Sauce
To Grill and Toast the Mochi
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Place a sheet of parchment paper in a chilly frying pan. Evenly house 4 Japanese rice cake (kiri mochi) on high.
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Activate the warmth to medium-low and canopy with a lid. Prepare dinner all sides for about 5â6 minutes, or till it puffs up and is toasted brown. Tip: The lid is non-obligatory, however I discover it useful to make use of at first to hurry up the method and facilitate cooking. As soon as the mochi begins to puff, it’ll turn into too tall, so we will not cowl it.
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Open the lid and verify just a few instances. When the mochi begins to puff up, gently press them down along with your fingers as soon as, so that they have a pleasant toasted mark on the underside floor.
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As soon as browned, flip it over and toast the opposite aspect for 5â6 minutes or till puffed and browned. Once more, gently press it down at first for even browning. As soon as puffed and comfortable within the center, switch to a plate.
To Make the Isobeyaki
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The basic model: Press down on the puffed mochi along with your hand to flatten it. Then, roll it within the candy soy sauce to coat utterly. Wrap it with nori (dried laver seaweed). Tip: I sometimes use two items of ajitsuke nori per mochi.
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My household’s model with cheese: Minimize 2 slices cheese in half. Fold them in thirds.
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Use your hand to press down and flatten the puffed mochi. Then, roll it within the candy soy sauce to coat utterly. Then, pull aside the mochi to increase it.
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Place the cheese inside and fold the mochi over it to cowl. Wrap it with nori (dried laver seaweed).