Chīzu Imomochi with Soy-Honey Glaze (Printer-Friendly)

Chewy potato mochi filled with melty cheese, pan-fried golden and glazed in soy-honey sauce. A Japanese comfort snack.

# What You Need:

→ For the Dumplings

01 - 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 14 oz)
02 - ½ cup potato starch or cornstarch
03 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 3 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into 8 cubes

→ For the Soy-Honey Glaze

06 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
07 - 1½ tablespoons honey
08 - 1 tablespoon mirin
09 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar

→ For Frying

10 - 1 tablespoon neutral oil such as canola or vegetable

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place peeled and chopped potatoes in a pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender, approximately 12 to 15 minutes.
02 - Drain potatoes thoroughly and mash until smooth. While still warm, add butter and salt, mixing well to incorporate.
03 - Add potato starch to the mashed potatoes and knead until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Add additional starch as needed if the dough remains too sticky.
04 - Divide dough into 8 equal portions. Flatten each piece into a disc, place a cheese cube in the center, and wrap the dough around to seal completely, forming a ball.
05 - Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add dumplings and cook while turning occasionally until all sides achieve golden brown color, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
06 - In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, mirin, and rice vinegar. Pour glaze into the skillet with dumplings. Toss gently to coat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until sauce thickens and glazes the dumplings.
07 - Transfer dumplings to a serving plate while warm. Optionally garnish with sliced scallions or toasted sesame seeds.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The contrast between the crispy pan-fried exterior and the gooey melted cheese center is incredibly satisfying.
  • The sticky soy-honey glaze adds a sweet-savory flavor that keeps you reaching for just one more.
  • They come together with pantry staples and taste like something from a Japanese street food stall.
  • Theyre fun to make with kids or friends, and everyone loves the cheese pull when you bite in.
02 -
  • Make sure to seal the dough tightly around the cheese or it will leak out during frying and make a mess in the pan.
  • Dont rush the frying step; medium heat gives the outside time to crisp without the inside drying out.
  • The glaze can burn quickly once it hits the pan, so have your dumplings ready and keep the heat moderate.
03 -
  • Use a potato ricer instead of a masher if you have one; it makes the dough incredibly smooth and eliminates lumps.
  • Let the dough rest for a few minutes before shaping if its too sticky to handle, and lightly oil your hands to prevent sticking.
  • If youre making a big batch, keep the shaped dumplings on a parchment-lined tray in the fridge until youre ready to fry them all at once.
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