Strawberry mochi, also known as ichigo (strawberry) daifuku, is a delicious Japanese dessert. A whole strawberry is covered in a layer of red bean paste and wrapped in mochi.
Fresh fruit desserts are the perfect way to start spring. I love this recipe because it’s just so FRESH and JUICY. Truly. Mochi is amazing, but when you add a tangy, sweet, and juicy strawberry in the middle? Perfection.
So I’m calling it strawberry mochi here, because if I called it strawberry daifuku, people may not know what it is. Daifuku is mochi filled with red bean paste. So, daifuku is more specific than mochi. This recipe could technically just be strawberry wrapped in mochi with no red bean paste, or maybe even pink “flavored” mochi. Nope, gotta have the layer of red bean in there.
Don’t be intimidated, these actually have a very easy ingredients list, and come together fairly quickly. Many recipes call for “shiratama-ko”, which I cannot always find at my local (non-Japanese) Asian store. I decided to make these with regular mochiko, which you can find at basically any Asian market or online, and they turned out amazing! I buy the white box with the blue star on the front. You’ll see it.
You’ll definitely impress and delight your friends with this fun mochi or any of my other mochi recipes including my most popular recipe, Hawaiian butter mochi. Watch the tutorial below to see how easy it is!
Strawberry Mochi (Daifuku)
Ingredients
- 12 small to medium strawberries
- 1 package red bean paste (koshian/smooth type) about 400 g
- 1 cup mochiko
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/8 cup water
- cornstarch/potato starch
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Instructions
Wash and Cut Strawberries
- Wash strawberries and pat to dry.
- Cut off the stems with paring knife.
Wrap Strawberries in Red Bean Paste
- Take a tablespoon or so of red bean paste, and wrap around the strawberry to fully cover. Using plastic wrap will make this easier and keep it from sticking to your hands.
- Wrap all of the strawberries and place in the refrigerator.
Make the Mochi
- Mix the mochiko and sugar in a large microwave safe bowl.
- Stir in the water and mix until fully combined.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and microwave for one minute.
- Remove from microwave and stir. Microwave for 30 second increments until mochi is smooth, thick, and pliable. ( See video above for visual. The amount of time may depend upon the microwave strength. Approximately 4 times total.)
Wrap the Strawberries in Mochi
- On a clean work surface, sprinkle a generous amount of starch, and add the mochi onto it. Put starch on your hands, to prevent sticking.
- Cut the mochi into twelve equal sized portions.
- Flatten the mochi into a circle, and place a red bean wrapped strawberries, tip down in the center of the mochi.
- Wrap the strawberry with the mochi, pinching the bottom closed.
Refrigerate
- If you are not eating immediately, cover lightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
What is daifuku?
Is Daifuku Gluten free?
Are there other kinds of daifuku?
Yomogi Daifuku (よもぎ 大福)
Any kind of daifuku which uses kusamochi (草餅), translated as “grass mochi.” This type of mochi is made with and herb, yomogi (mugwart) which gives it a green color.
Ume Daifuku (梅 大福)
Ume daifuku is another popular daifuku that is filled with sweet ume paste (plum).
Yuzu Daifuku (ゆず 大福)
This type of daifuku is made from the Japanese yuzu fruit. This citrus looks a bit like a grapefruit mixed with a lemon. It is known for unique flavor and strong citrus smell.
I don’t have a microwave. How can I cook the mochi please?
You can cook it in a steamer on the stove!
The recipe ever! We loved our Strawberry Mochi so much. Thank you for sharing.