Mochi: A Healthy Japanese Snack (2024)

  • Mochi: A Healthy Japanese Snack (1)

Mochi: A Healthy Japanese Snack

Mochi: A Healthy Japanese Snack (2)Mochi: A Healthy Japanese Snack (3)

Feeding hungry kids healthy food is always a challenge. It requires improvisation, patience for trial and error, and oftentimes a bit of luck. Inspiration comes unexpectedly sometimes.

Japanese New Year all year round

Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made from a sticky sweet rice that has been cooked then pounded together, then shaped and baked. Sometimes ice cream is placed in the middle. Mochi is part of the Japanese New Year tradition, but it’s enjoyed throughout the year as a snack or an addition to soups.

I was recently introduced to the traditional snack at a friend’s house. Not only was it delicious, but I also loved how a hard slab of rice pulled right from the fridge puffed up into a crispy and very tasty snack food. The kids really enjoyed watching it, too.Mochi: A Healthy Japanese Snack (4)

Make more and store

My friend said that she makes a big batch and then stores it in her fridge for a couple of weeks. Perfect! It can be so difficult to find a healthful snack that matches the preparation ease of sugary or salt-laden convenience snacks. When she or her kids come home from school, they’ll take one of the pre-cut squares and heat it in the oven for a few minutes. They wrap seaweed around it and serve it up with soy sauce for dipping. I find a few pieces of pickled ginger make a nice, sweet counterpoint to the soy sauce.

Health benefits of mochi

When you combine rice and seaweed, mochi is low in saturated fat and very low in cholesterol. It is also a good source of Vitamins A, C, E (Alpha Tocopherol), and K, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, and Phosphorus. It’s also a very good source of Riboflavin, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Copper, and Manganese.

Mochi

Ingredients

  • 1 cup short- or medium-grain Japanese rice
  • 2 tablespoon potato starch
  • 1 package of nori (seaweed)
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup pickled ginger

Instructions

  1. Cook one cup of rice in a rice cooker or boil on the stove.
  2. Let cool for five minutes.
  3. Knead with a blender until smooth.
  4. Sprinkle with potato starch and flatten.
  5. Cut into squares, wrap in plastic, keep in the fridge.
  6. When you want to prepare a mochi snack, put a square in a warm toaster oven at 325°F (163°C) for 5 to 10 minutes. They will puff up.
  7. Wrap in nori and dip in soy sauce. Add pickled ginger for some sweetness.

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Mochi: A Healthy Japanese Snack (2024)

FAQs

Is Japanese mochi healthy? ›

Mochi is a versatile and healthy snack, and was popular amongst rice farmers and Samurai for increasing stamina and for its convenient format. Mochi is one of the few carbohydrate sources that is packed with protein, and is free from cholesterol.

Are you supposed to eat mochi frozen? ›

Should I eat mochi ice cream frozen? Mochi ice cream should be slightly frozen when eaten. Although it shouldn't be completely frozen and solid, it should still be soft and cold.

Is mochi a food or snack? ›

MOCHI: AN ANCIENT JAPANESE SNACK

An ancient Japanese snack, mochi has been in the food culture of Japan since 14,000-300 B.C.. Possibly the cleanest confection ever created, it is traditionally made with pounded rice and spring water, and often filled with red Azuki bean paste.

Is my mochi real mochi? ›

In 1993, a Japanese confectioner combined traditional mochi with ice cream in Los Angeles. Today we wrap our sweet, pillowy rice dough around premium ice cream to give you a uniquely chilled, delicious, dual texture experience. It's the original mochi ice cream that delivers a uniquely cool, dual texture experience.

Is mochi full of sugar? ›

A single serving of 44.0 g (1.55 oz) has 96 calories (kilocalories), 1.0 g (0.035 oz) of fat, but no trans or saturated fat, 1.0 mg (0.015 gr) of sodium, 22.0 g (0.78 oz) of carbohydrates, no dietary fiber, 6.0 g (0.21 oz) of sugar, and 1.0 g (0.035 oz) of protein.

Is mochi good for your stomach? ›

While mochi is made from starch, which is good for digestion, it can sometimes cause an obstruction, with patients showing severe symptoms that can suggest a strangulated obstruction.

Is mochi healthier than ice cream? ›

The average mochi ball is about 100 calories. Whereas filling up a bowl of ice cream might equate to over 350 calories, a small 100 calorie snack won't throw off your weight loss goals. A small taste of indulgence will keep you motivated and happy throughout the day.

Are you supposed to freeze mochi? ›

It's safe to assume that mochi should go in the fridge or freezer regardless of the variety you purchase. Any mochi balls without ice cream should be consumed within 24 hours, refrigerated, or frozen. Mochi ice cream should be immediately frozen to help keep the ice cream filling intact.

What is the proper way to eat mochi? ›

Cut It into Bite-Sized Pieces: Mochi is traditionally served in small, bite-sized portions. Use a knife to cut it into manageable pieces to avoid choking. Use Chopsticks: When handling mochi, opt for chopsticks rather than your hands. This helps prevent your fingers from becoming sticky due to mochi's adhesive nature.

Can you eat mochi by itself? ›

On its own, mochi tastes like rice but has a sticky, stretchy, soft, and chewy texture. However, mochi is very versatile with endless flavor possibilities and is used in a number of different Japanese dishes. Different regions of Japan have different mochi specialties and mochi is also widely used in home cooking.

Why do Japanese people eat mochi? ›

It's more than just a treat. In Japan, it's a symbol of good fortune that was widely consumed by the aristocracy.

Do you eat mochi in one bite? ›

EAT IT WHOLE

If you're in a rush, it's great to grab and go – it can be eaten in just a few bites. If you want to take your mochi with you, then you can purchase one of our Little Moons Chilly's tubs at our pop-ups, to keep your mochi cool for when you're ready.

Is mochi male or female? ›

Mochi is a male cat, but has a calico fur pattern, which is found almost exclusively in female cats due to the calico gene being found on the X chromosome. However, male calico cats do exist, but are extremely rare (about 1 in 3000 cats is born a male calico).

What is a fun fact about mochi? ›

In Japan, mochi has been ceremonially eaten on New Year's day for over 1000 years, making it known as one of several New Year's foods. Because of its ceremonial nature, mochi on New Year's Day is something of a special affair. New Year's mochi is sold as a type of decoration called kagami mochi.

Is mochi Chinese or Japanese? ›

Although mochi itself is a traditional Japanese food, Mantou finds it's roots in China. Eventually, it made its way across the East China Sea and Japan made it their own. The mochi dough in manju is often flavored while the center is traditionally a sweet bean filling.

What are the disadvantages of mochi? ›

Problems can be avoided by breaking up mochi into smaller, more easily ingestible, pieces. But Nikkan Gendai warns that consumption of mochi can also cause problems for people of any age. For one thing, not chewing it thoroughly before swallowing can result in its becoming impacted in the intestine.

Is mochi healthier than donut? ›

origin from Hawaii. is a combination of American donuts and Japanese mochi. mochi Donuts. contains half the calories of regular donuts, making these a healthy alternative.

How many calories in a Japanese mochi? ›

Japanese mochi by ROYAL FAMILY contains 109 calories per 30 g serving. This serving contains 3 g of fat, 2 g of protein and 19 g of carbohydrate.

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