This recipe for Strawberry Red Bean Mochi features fresh strawberries encased in a homemade red bean paste. It's a sweet, chewy and delicious treat that will be sure to impress your guests!
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My husband came home with these really cute (and sweet) strawberries the other day.
I had to fight my kids off to save a couple strawberries so that I could make these delicious Strawberry Red Bean Mochi.
What is mochi?
Mochi is a Japanese treat made with glutinous rice flour.
It has a sticky, chewy texture and can be unfilled or filled.
In this recipe, we'll fill the mochi with a homemade red bean paste and fresh strawberry.
Ingredients you'll need
The mochi dough only consists of a few ingredients:
- mochiko flour (glutinous rice flour): is different than rice flour, and is also known as sweet rice flour, which is made from short-grain rice
- water
- granulated sugar: adds a little sweetness to the dough
- kinako (roasted soy bean flour): or cooked cornstarch, for dusting the mochi
The filling consists of:
- fresh strawberries: washed and patted dry
- red bean paste: (can be homemade or store bought)
You can find these ingredients in Asian grocery stores.
How to make it
Prepare the filling:
Prepare the red bean paste and divide it in to small balls.
Wash and dry the strawberries with a paper towel.
Wrap each strawberry with the red bean paste, ensuring that no strawberry is visible.
You'll end up with 4 red bean "balls."
Make the mochi skin:
In a shallow microwave-safe dish, combine the glutinous rice flour, water and sugar. Give it a stir.
Cover the mixture and microwave it in 1-minute intervals for 2-3 minutes, stopping to stir in between.
When the mochi skin is translucent, it's cooked through.
Assemble:
Divide the cooked dough into 4 equal portions.
Flatten a piece of dough with a silicone spatula.
Place a red bean "ball" on top of the mochi dough, and pinch to seal the edges.
Dust with kinako roasted soy bean flour (or cooked cornstarch), and repeat with the remainder.
Tips & tricks for making the mochi
I like to use a silicone spatula when making mochi.
Mochi dough is very hot and sticky and can burn you if you don't handle it carefully.
I prefer using a silicone mat as my work surface, with a liberal dusting of kinako or cooked cornstarch to prevent the dough from sticking.
Lastly, I keep a bowl of water nearby to dab my fingers into and press down on the dough.
How to store
Due to the moisture content in fresh strawberry, it's best to consume the mochi right away on the same day it is made.
I don't recommend storing the mochi in the fridge or freezer, as the dough will harden when exposed to cool temperatures.
How to serve
Serve the Strawberry Red Bean Mochi with tea, or other sweet treats such as:
Taiwanese Pineapple Cakes (Feng Li Su) 鳳梨酥
Other recipes you may like
If you love mochi and red bean, you may enjoy my other recipes:
Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below. I love seeing your creations!
Strawberry Red Bean Mochi
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 4 small strawberries
- 4 scoops of red bean paste about ½ tablespoon each (may need to adjust how much paste you need depending on how large your strawberries are)
- 90 g mochiko flour glutinous rice flour
- 120 g water
- 15 g granulated sugar
- roasted soy bean flour (kinako) or cooked cornstarch for dusting
Instructions
Prepare strawberries/red bean:
- Wash strawberries and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Taking a scoop of red bean paste, wrap it around each strawberry, covering it entirely with a thin layer of paste. (You may need to adjust how much paste you need depending on how small or large your strawberries are).
Make mochi dough:
- Place mochiko flour, water, and sugar into a shallow microwave-safe bowl. Give the mixture a stir.
- Cover with a plate and microwave on high power in 1-minute intervals for 2-3 minutes, stopping to stir after each minute.
- After 2-3 minutes, the mochi dough will be translucent and cooked through.
- Divide the mochi dough into 4 equal portions.
- Using a silicone mat as the work surface, sprinkle a dusting of kinako (roasted soy bean flour) or cooked cornstarch on it.
- Place 1 portion of mochi dough, place it onto the silicone mat, and flatten it out into a round circle with a silicone spatula. You may dip your fingers in a little water to help further flatten the mochi.
- Take 1 red bean "ball" (with the strawberry encased in it) and place it onto the middle of the dough. Gather the edges and pinch to seal.
- Dust with kinako and place it seam side down into a muffin liner.
- Repeat with the remainder.
- Best consumed on the same day it is made.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Katerina | Once a Foodie
This is such a fun recipe, Michelle! My kids have loved eating mochi ever since we visited Japan a couple of years ago and now they get their fix at the local sushi train. I had no idea I could make my own (and even use fresh strawberries - how cute is that!?) so thank you so much for that inspiration and for sharing your recipe! My kids would absolutely love this.
Michelle
Thanks Katerina! The fresh strawberries definitely adds that "je ne sais quoi" factor 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Such a fun dessert!! Love it! And a great way to use one of my summer faves - strawberries 🙂 Have a great week!
Michelle
Thanks Dawn!! It's a yummy surprise discovering fresh strawberries in these mochi! 🙂
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
I loved your idea to infuse fresh strawberries into mochi. What an addicting and fun treat!
Michelle
Thanks Heidi! Yes, fresh strawberries are such a delightful surprise in this mochi 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven
The fresh strawberries are a wonderful surprise in your mochi, Michelle! They're so pretty and perfect for a summer treat!
David @ Spiced
You always come up with the most creative and colorful recipes, Michelle! I totally understand fighting off the kids for a few of these strawberries. Robbie loves all types of berries, and I literally have to make a section of the fridge that is "hands off" for recipes I'm making that week! Speaking of making recipes, I would love to try my hand at this one - I've never made anything like it!
Michelle
Yes, that is a great idea -- I'm gonna have to implement a "hands off" section in the fridge! Haha!
Rahul @samosastreet
This post is awesome! I am so happy I came across your site Michelle. Love all the Japanese cuisine you share here.
Michelle
Thanks Rahul 🙂
Lauren I BasicGinger.com
Michelle, these are adorable! I LOVE mochi, but never thought I could make it at home. Your instructions are easy to follow and make me think I have to try it! Thank you so much for sharing!
Michelle
Glad to hear it, Lauren! Hope you do give it a try! 🙂
Linsey
I always love mochi, but never try to make with fresh fruit inside. This mochi looks mouth watering. I'm going to make soon. Thank you Michelle!