Recently, Mochi ice cream has become one of the most popular flavors worldwide. Mochi ice cream, which we previously knew little about, has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity as a result of the popularity of TikTok.
But what is Mochi ice cream? This guide will cover a variety of topics, including what this ice cream is, where it comes from, and much more. Continue reading to learn more.
What Is Mochi?
Japanese cuisine has many different sweet and savory versions of the sweet rice cake known as mochi. Mochitsuki, a custom associated with the Japanese New Year, entails the more time-consuming steps of steaming sweet glutinous rice and then pounding it to create mochi (small glutinous rice cakes). This video demonstrating the Mochitsuki process was fantastic.
In order to create these tiny rice cakes, glutinous rice flour is microwaved or steamed in the oven.
Where Is Mochi From?
Originally from Japan, mochi is sweet. Families used to congregate for a mochitsuki, the activity of pounding mochi in a mortar with big wooden mallets, which was frequently enjoyed during the Japanese New Year as celebratory food. The steamed glutinous rice is now often kneaded for you by a mochi machine, which is akin to a bread machine.
The good news is that you can omit both of these time-consuming steps when making this recipe and simply use the microwave instead! You can achieve a comparable texture without doing all the work by combining heat and mochiko flour (glutinous rice flour).
What Is Mochi Ice Cream?
Popular Japanese dessert mochi ice cream is made from sweet rice dough that has been pounded and is wrapped around ice cream. Homemade ice cream gets a fun twist from this texture, which is comparable to the chew of boba. When we’ve had a substantial meal like this chicken yakisoba recipe, we love to indulge in mochi.
As we already mentioned, Mochi ice cream is unmistakably unique, which may be reason enough for some people to be reluctant to try it. You already know that mochi is delicious if you’ve ever had it. However, if you are a picky eater, you might be hesitant to try it because you are unsure of what to expect. Now describe the flavor of the Mochi ice cream.
Ice cream made from mochi is undoubtedly unique, and as a result, its flavor is also very distinctive. Mochi deviates greatly from what you might initially anticipate; it tastes like marshmallows on its own but has the texture of gummy candy. A salty aftertaste that lingers in your mouth after you finish eating makes this flavor even more distinctive. Depending on the recipe used to make the mochi, your ice cream will taste very differently. Mochi is typically flavored using things like green tea and herbs to sweeten it.
The various types of ice cream that are used in the middle, however, are what actually alter the flavor of your mochi. The flavor of your Mochi ice cream will be greatly influenced by the ice cream that is used to make it because a strong ice cream flavor will frequently overpower the flavor of the mochi.
The Popularity Of Mochi, Why?
Early in the 1990s, when Mochi ice cream first appeared on the market, it almost immediately became popular. People were excited to try this delicious new ice cream because it was so new and exciting. While some American tastes were not universally favored, mango was an immediate success and helped Mochi become more well-liked there.
Ice cream made in Mochi was eventually exported to other nations. When this new type of ice cream was introduced, it was a success because variations of Mochi ice cream had already been around in Japan for a long time. From there, Mochi ice cream started to be sold in China, Italy, Canada, and other Western nations as well as in India.
However, Mochi ice cream has only recently become popular in the UK. Since many American treats have been available in the UK for a very long time, this is actually quite surprising. Mochi ice cream, though, was not one of them, for whatever reason. Although it has been available in the UK, mochi ice cream hasn’t exactly been a hit. Until now.
Since the introduction of TikTok, people have started to adopt all kinds of new trends they see online. A few TikTok videos are to blame for Mochi ice cream finally becoming well-known in the UK. People couldn’t wait to try “Little Moons,” which were suddenly flying off the shelves. However, TikTok is not to blame for Mochi ice cream’s success; although it may have contributed. Instead, the appeal of Mochi ice cream stems from its flavor.
How To Make Mochi Ice Cream At Home
It can be challenging to find Mochi ice cream because of how well-liked it is. You might not be able to find this treat because not all stores carry it. If so, you might think about creating it yourself. It is possible to do this, but you should be aware that the flavor will probably differ significantly from store-bought Mochi ice cream. Check out the recipe below if you prefer to make it yourself, though.
Ingredients
- Ice Cream
- Sweet Rice Flour
- Sugar
- Water
- Cornstarch
Instructions
- Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and use that to freeze the ice cream balls. Ice cream balls should be quickly scooped with a small ice cream scoop and placed on the parchment paper. In order for the ice cream to sit flat on your cookie sheet, make sure to pack it tightly in the scooper and leave it with a flat edge. Freeze for 1 hour.
- To make mochi, combine flour, sugar, and powdered sugar in a bowl that can withstand the microwave. Add water and stir thoroughly until smooth. After heating the mochi dough in the microwave for one minute, cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Use a wet spatula to fold the mixture repeatedly while preventing sticking. For another minute, cover and microwave the food. After another fold, microwave the dough for 30 more seconds. If the mochi doesn’t appear slightly shiny, microwave it for another 30 seconds.
- Create a rectangle out of the mochi dough by placing a piece of parchment paper on the counter and covering it with cornstarch. The mochi dough can be transferred from the bowl to the parchment paper using a rubber spatula. However, be careful not to touch the dough because it will be extremely hot. Cornstarch should be sprinkled on top of the dough ball. Roll the mochi dough with a rolling pin into a sizable rectangle that is ¼ inch thick. Continue to sprinkle the top with cornstarch to prevent sticking if the dough sticks at all while rolling. Place the cookie sheet with the parchment paper and rolled out dough on it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Use an approximately 3-inch-diameter round biscuit cutter to cut circles out of the dough before filling the mochi with ice cream. You must cut out circles that are large enough to enclose the ice cream in dough. I like to use a dry pastry brush to gently remove the cornstarch from the top of one circle of dough when I pick it up. Place one ice cream scoop in the center of the mochi and gently press the dough around it, working with one scoop of ice cream at a time (keep the others in the freezer so they don’t melt). Seal the mochi by pinching its edges together. Mochi should be placed on a piece of plastic wrap with the corners brought to the center and tightly twisted at the top.
- Place the rolled plastic wrap-down side of the mochi back in the freezer to further freeze. Repeat with the remaining ice cream and dough. Before eating, let the mochi ice cream freeze for at least an hour. If you want to keep it frozen for up to three months, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in a freezer-safe bag or container. Before eating, let the dough slightly thaw.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Mochi ice cream is a Japanese-inspired treat popular in the United States. It was invented in 1993 and combines ice cream with mochi (Japanese sticky rice). Since then, it has gained enormous popularity both domestically and abroad. Using the above simple recipe, you can make mochi ice cream at home on your own and enjoy it. If you still have any inquiries, kindly leave a comment.