Spring is here! There are a lot of cherry blossom across London's street and parks, the lovely pink bloom make me happy :) In Japan, people go picnic and celebrate under cherry blossom trees day and night, I would love to go there for the Hanami festivities! I am making these Japanese Cherry blossom Mochi to go with the season :)
Japanese Cherry blossom Sakura Mochi 桜餅 (easy recipe)
makes around 10 pieces
Ingredients
10 Cherry blossom sakura pickled leaves 塩漬け桜葉
10 Cherry blossom sakura pickle 桜の花の塩漬け
200g Red bean paste あんこ
240 ml Water
2 tablespoons Sugar
a few drop of Pink food coloring
115g Sweet glutinous rice もち米/道明寺粉
Method
1. Soak the glutinous rice, the sakura leaves and blossom seperately in cold water for 10 minutes to remove the salt.
2. Divide the Red bean paste into 10 parts and roll them in circles (I find it easier to scoop them out into little balls with 2 teaspoons), chill in the fridge for a while.
3. Put the Water and Sugar in a microwave container and microwave for 2 mins until the sugar is dissolved.
4. Drain the water from the Sweet glutinous rice. Add a few drop of Pink food coloring and the Sweet glutinous rice to the sugar water and mix well.
5. Cover with cling film, cook in the microwave for 3 mins, take the container out and stir with a spatula. Cover and leave it to steam for 7 minutes.
6. Spread a full tablespoon of glutinous rice on the cling film, gently press in into a circle disc, place a red bean paste ball in the centre, wrap and shape into a ball.
7. Drain the water from the sakura leaves and blossom, gently pat dry them with a kitchen towel.
8. Remove cling film and wrap a sakura leaf around the mochi. Decorate with a blossom on the top and serve at room temperature :)
A few pictures of cherry blossom arcross London :)
