Mochi

Mochi (sticky rice cake) is an important food in Japanese culture. For example, people decorate their houses with special mochi called kagamimochi and eat zoni (rice cake soup) during Japanese New Year's holidays.

Steamed mochi rice (glutinous rice) is pounded to make mochi. Traditionally, wooden mortars and pestles are used to pound mochi rice. Fresh mochi is soft, but it hardens quickly. Prepacked mochi blocks, which are flattened and cut into square pieces or shaped into rounds are available at grocery stores. Mochi get mold easily, so it's best to cook soon.

Hard mochi pieces can be grilled, deep-fried, boiled, and more. Cooked mochi is very sticky, so be careful not to choke it. It's important to take a small bite at a time.

Japanese Mochi Dishes:

• Sweet Mochi Soup (Shiruko) - grilled mochi in sweet azuki beans soup.
• Isobe Maki - grilled mochi with dried nori and soysauce dip.
• Mochi Soup (Zoni) - rice cake soup. Zoni Recipe