Yaki Mochi (Grilled Mochi)
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Yaki Mochi, or grilled mochi, is a beloved Japanese rice cake snack with a crispy exterior and chewy interior. Serve sweet or savory, the flavor combinations are endless!
I love mochi, but have you heard of kiri mochi? On my last trip to Japan, I found kiri mochi sold in supermarkets. What makes it unique is that it is cut into individual pieces and packaged in dry form. In essence, it is shelf-stable version of mochi that offers a convenient way to enjoy this traditional rice cake.
One preparation method I love for cooking kiri mochi is by grilling it. Yaki Mochi or grilled mochi is traditionally grilled over charcoal, but it can now be toasted in the oven, toaster, air fryer, or over the stovetop. You’ll know it’s ready when the outside gets a little golden and toasted and the mochi puffs up.
Fresh Yaki Mochi has a crispy exterior and chewy, stretchy interior. Since it tastes plain like nothing, you can add sweet or savory condiments. The flavor combinations for eating this Yaki Mochi are endless!
Main Ingredient: Kiri Mochi
Kiri mochi is a dried and precut Japanese mochi rice cake. It comes in a rectangle or round shape and is wrapped individually in plastic. Drying makes this rice cake shelf-stable for many months, which makes it very convenient and you can enjoy it year-round.
It is made only with glutinous rice. There is no added sugar in kiri mochi, so it is not sweet and has no flavor. When you take it out of the package, it has a hard texture. You have to cook it to soften it up. You can grill it in the toaster oven, microwave, cook it on a frying pan, or add it directly to hot soup.
Where to Buy
You can find kiri mochi at Japanese and Asian grocery stores in the dried food aisle. It is also available on Amazon.
How to Make Yaki Mochi
- Stovetop method. Grill kiri mochi for 5 minutes on each side on low heat. Pan fry until browned on each side, puffed, and soft in the center.
- Oven/toaster method. Preheat the broiler on high heat and grill the mochi for 3-4 minutes on each side.
- Air fryer method. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place kiri mochi. Air fry at 400F/200°C for 6-8 minutes, flip halfway for even browning.
- Grill method. Grill over an open flame until the exterior is evenly brown and puffed.
Yaki Mochi Variations
Once grilled, Yaki Mochi is ready to season anyway you like. The options are endless! Try these other variations to enjoy yaki mochi:
- Isobeyaki. Yaki mochi is coated with soy sauce, then wrapped in nori seaweed for extra umami flavor.
- Kinako and kuromitu. Dip the yaki mochi in hot water and roll in roasted soybean powder. Drizzle with kuromitsu, Japanese black sugar syrup, for sweetness.
- Black sesame and sugar. Dip the yaki mochi in hot water and roll in ground black sesame and sugar mixture.
- Butter shoyu. Grill yaki mochi with melted butter and soy sauce.
- Anko. Top yaki mochi with sweet red bean paste.
- Butter and honey. Grill yaki mochi with melted butter. Drizzle with honey as the finishing touch.
- Bacon. Wrap kiri mochi with bacon and grill it. Season with soy sauce if desired.
- Condensed milk. Dip yaki mochi in sweetened condensed milk.
Serve While Still Hot
It is best to cook Yaki Mochi right before you serve it. When the mochi is still fresh and hot, it has the best chewy texture. The mochi will harden as it cools. I recommend preparing only as much as you can consume.
More Japanese Snack Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 pieces kiri mochi
- Sweetened condensed milk, to serve, optional
Instructions
- Stovetop method. Grill kiri mochi for 5 minutes on each side on low heat. Pan fry until browned on each side, puffed, and soft in the center.
- Oven/toaster method. Preheat the broiler on high heat and grill the mochi for 3-4 minutes on each side.
- Air fryer method. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place kiri mochi. Air fry at 400F/200°C for 6-8 minutes, flip halfway for even browning.
- Grill method. Grill over an open flame until the exterior is evenly brown and puffed.
- Serve Yaki Mochi with condensed milk if preferred. Or season with other condiments. Best served hot for the best chewy texture.
I saw this on your Instagram and immediately bought the mochi block to try. It was simply a life hack!