Oshiruko is something people eat in the winter as a snack in Japan. In this easy-to-follow recipe and video, we are going to show you how to make it at home. In Japanese food culture, oshiruko is especially popular in January. This is because people like to make oshiruko using leftover mochi from the New Year’s celebration. But you can use this authentic Japanese food recipe to make delicious and healthy oshiruko any time of the year.
What Is Oshiruko Exactly?
Oshiruko is a sweet soup-like dish that is based on a paste made from cooking red beans with sugar and water. Different types of mochi are also often used including shiratama, which is made from glutinous rice flour. Because it is both sweet and warm, it is a popular energizing food that is eaten during the winter season in Japanese culture and traditions. We are sharing the oshiruko recipe with you here because it also works great as a tasty winter snack anywhere outside of Japan.
Instant Oshiruko Products
Oshiruko is so popular in Japan that it is common to see instant frozen packages in grocery stores that you can just add hot water to in order to prepare. There are also some tasty oshiruko drinks that are sold in a can in vending machines during the winter season. That’s how much Japanese people love it, so please go ahead and give it a try yourself!
Cooking Tips:
- You can also bake mochi in a toaster or frying pan if you like the mochi to be crispy. Another option is boiling the mochi, which makes it softer and easier to mix into the oshiruko soup.
- A hint of soy sauce makes this sweet soup taste better because you get that sweet-salty umami thing going!
- This recipe used chunky red bean paste, but you can use smooth red bean paste as well if you prefer. Or, you can even make your own red bean paste.
Oshiruko
Ingredients
- 2 Mochi
- 1 cup Red Bean Paste (Tsubu An)
- ¾ cup Water
- ½ tsp Soy Sauce
Instructions
- Cut the mochi into 6 pieces.
- Line microwavable plate with parchment paper and place mochi pieces on top. Microwave (600W) for 1 minute.
- In a pot, add water and the bean paste and bring to boil. Remove any form off the surface.
- Reduce heat to low and add mochi. Cook until mochi is soft.
- Once the mochi is soft, add soy sauce and pour in bowl.
