What is Kirimochi? (Complete Guide to this Japanese Treat)

Kirimochi is a type of Japanese food made from cut and dried mochi. Mochi usually refers to a ball of sweet rice cake made from short-grain Japanese glutinous rice, also known as mochigome, which is sweet and sticky. This makes it possible to knead them into dough. It is an important food of the Japanese folk and holds a special place in Japanese culture. Mochi is super sticky. In fact, one of the strongest one-piece characters, Katakuri, ate the Mochi-Mochi fruit to become a sticky man.

What Does Kirimochi Mean?

Kirimochi means “cut mochi.” It is basically the commercialized version of mochi, as it refers to shelf-stable mochi which has been cut and dried. They are made available in convenient packages which can be bought in grocery stores. Drying the mochi for a long time helps preserve it for extended periods on the shelf. Sure, it is not as chewy as fresh mochi, but it lasts for a long time.

Kirimochi isn’t different from regular mochi in the process of making it. It is simply pounded until it becomes a stretchy paste. Nevertheless, it is simply far more convenient than regular mochi. The longer shelf life makes it available all year round, and it presents multiple ways in which it can be consumed. It could be either sweet or savory.

Significance of Mochi

Mochi is an integral part of the Japanese New Year celebrations and is regularly sold and consumed around this season in Japan. There are different types of mochi, and they can each mean different things. Mochi isn’t just your regular treat; to the Japanese, it symbolizes good fortune and happy marriages, and some even go as far as calling them “food of the gods.” 

What Does Kirimochi Taste Like?

Kirimochi tastes similar to regular, non-dried mochi. In other words, Kirimochi is almost entirely without flavor, but it is extremely mild and barely noticeable on its own. Also, remember that Kirimochi is dried, so it’s not suitable for eating immediately. Heat has to be applied to it to make it soft. After heating it up a bit, the Kirimochi becomes chewy but the flavor remains neutral. It could be baked so that it becomes crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

There are recommended flavors that go well with Kirimochi;

• After heating up the Kirimochi you could simply put in kinako powder and sugar to taste.
• Red bean paste can also be spread over the slab of cooked Kirimochi.
• Grilling the Kirimochi with butter and then topping it with honey is also good.
• Chocolate is also a great topping for Kirimochi. After preparing the Kirimochi however you want, simply put chocolate spread on it.

Ways to Use Kirimochi for Meals

No one has the time and energy to pound mochi regularly for domestic use, so people usually buy mochi meals. Kirimochi is a better alternative because you can now make the meals yourself. It is basically an easier and more accessible mochi. You can stop by a supermarket in Japan or some places in Asia and get your packaged Kirimochi. They last for months in the pantry, too, even if you leave them unopened.

Once you get your Kirimochi, and you’re ready to experience what it takes, there are several ways that you could consider making this possible. You could grill it in a toaster oven, cook it on a dry frying pan, microwave the slabs of Kirimochi, or simply throw it into hot soup!

Take note of the fact that Kirimochi can be very sticky once the heat has been applied to it, so be sure to add a little bit of water to the utensils that you use to handle it to keep it from sticking to the utensil.

Kirimochi Sushi

This dish involves making sushi rolls by wrapping seaweed around kirimochi and dipping it in a sauce of your choice before chewing. 

Kirimochi Udon

This hearty noodle dish involves adding thin slices of kirimochi to udon noodles in a flavorful broth. Simply cook the udon noodles according to the package instructions, then add thin slices of kirimochi and simmer until the kirimochi is soft.

Kirimochi Onigiri

Onigiri is a popular Japanese snack made from rice that is formed into a triangular shape and often filled with savory ingredients. To make kirimochi onigiri, simply form a ball of cooked rice and wrap it in a layer of kirimochi. You can then fill the center with your choice of fillings such as tuna, salmon, or pickled plum.

Anko Kirimochi

We all know that red bean paste and anything in Japanese cuisine is a match made in heaven. Anko Kirmochi is not any different. After softening it up, you can mix the kirimochi with anko and enjoy. 

Kirimochi Ice Cream

For a sweet treat, try using kirimochi as a topping for ice cream. Simply crush a few pieces of kirimochi into small pieces and sprinkle over your favorite flavor of ice cream. Or treat it like regular mochi ice cream by filling it with ice cream, rolling and chewing it. 

If you love the concept of Kirimochi, then you’re gonna love Japanese snacks! Check out our amazing monthly snack deals at ZenPop Japan to order yours now.

This article was originally written by our freelance writer Umm-Kulthum Abdulkareem, and edited by us.