Chīzu Imomochi Cheese Potato Mochi (Printable)

Chewy potato mochi stuffed with cheese, pan-fried golden and coated in sweet-savory soy-honey glaze.

# What You Need:

→ For the Dumplings

01 - 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
02 - ½ cup potato starch or cornstarch
03 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 3 ounces 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 oil

# Directions:

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 mashed potatoes and knead until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Add additional starch if needed to achieve proper consistency.
04 - Divide dough into 8 equal portions. Flatten each piece into a disc, place a cheese cube in the center, and wrap dough around to seal, forming a ball.
05 - Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add dumplings and cook, turning occasionally, until all sides achieve golden brown color, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
06 - Combine soy sauce, honey, mirin, and rice vinegar in a small bowl. Pour glaze into skillet with dumplings, tossing gently to coat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until sauce thickens and adheres to dumplings.
07 - Transfer dumplings to serving dish while warm. Garnish optionally with sliced scallions or toasted sesame seeds.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The contrast between crispy glaze and gooey cheese center is ridiculously satisfying
  • It uses humble pantry staples but tastes special enough for company
  • You can prep the dough ahead and fry them right before serving
  • They reheat beautifully in a hot skillet without losing their chew
02 -
  • If the dough feels too wet to handle, let it cool for a few minutes before shaping or add starch gradually until it firms up
  • Seal the cheese cubes completely or they'll leak and burn in the pan
  • Don't overcrowd the skillet or the dumplings steam instead of crisping
03 -
  • Use a potato ricer instead of a masher for the silkiest dough with zero lumps
  • Let the glaze reduce until it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon for maximum stickiness
  • If you want extra crunch, brush the dumplings with a little oil before pan-frying
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