Sakura Mochi

Japanese sweets are always delicious and creative. Creative in this sense that these are often theme based sweets. Japanese desserts are the best gifts for your loved ones at the time of celebration. Making desserts or sweets is the old traditon in Japan for centuries. Their traditional sweets are known as "Wagashi" and " mochi". So, Japan has developed unique kind of sweets based on rice and beans. Japanese sweets are great as a snack, and are a perfect way to end your meal.

Have you ever heard about "Sakura Mochi"?
Sakura mochi in other words, is known as " Cherry Blossom Sweet Rice Cakes". Sakura mochi is made of pink-colored mochi and filled with "Anko" paste. The sweet rice ball is wrapped with a pickled cherry blossom, or sakura, leaf. These are typically eaten in the spring and are especially popular on "Hinamatsuri" (Girl's Day) to celebrate the beginning of spring as well as to wish good luck and health for all the little girls in the family.

Different regions of Japan has different styles of Sakura mochi such as Kanto- style and Kansai-style are really popular.The Kansai-style sakuramochi has an excellent aroma and the slight pink color gives the dessert an elegant style.

Let's share the recipe :
Ingredients :

75 grams coarse rice flour (domyoji-ko)

70 grams sugar

200 milliliters hot water

Pinch of powdered red food coloring (dissolved in a small amount of water)

8-10 preserved cherry blossom leaves

120-150 grams red bean paste (anko)

 Instructions :

Place water and cherry blossom leaves in a bowl for at least one hour prior to cooking to remove extra salt.

Dissolve the sugar in 200 milliliters boiled water, then add the food coloring.

Place rice flour in a bowl, pour in the sugar water, and mix well.

Cover the rice mixture and let sit for one to two hours.

Once the rice flour has absorbed the water to become dough-like, spread 30-gram portions into circles. Place a ball of bean paste (approximately 15 grams) in the center of each circle, and then close the mochi dough around the paste, forming a ball.

Wrap each mochi ball with a preserved cherry blossom leaf.

Tips :

• Sakura mochi is best eaten on the same day it is prepared. However, it may be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days and warmed in the microwave prior to eating. It is best to wrap each individual mochi securely with plastic wrap and then store them in the refrigerator. 
• Pickled sakura leaves can be purchased at most Japanese supermarkets or online. If you are making this, do so at least 2 days in advance. 
• As sakura mochi can be stored in the freezer, when you thaw, let it sit at room temperature until soft.