Noodlepedia

A glossary of both familiar and lesser-known Asian ingredients and terms.

Mochi

A soft, chewy Japanese rice cake made from glutinous rice flour. Often filled with sweet red bean, ice cream, or fruit.

Pro Tip: Let frozen mochi ice cream sit for 2–3 minutes before eating—the perfect melt makes all the difference!

How to Use It:

Enjoy as a snack or dessert
Serve with tea for a sweet treat
Try different fillings for fun textures and flavors

1. Pan-Fried Mochi with Soy Sugar Glaze (Aka: Lazy Mitarashi Mochi)

Vibe: Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy inside with a sweet-savory sticky glaze. Perfect snack or dessert with tea—or a midnight treat 🖤

🛒 Ingredients:

Store-bought plain or flavored mochi (not ice cream!)
1 tbsp neutral oil or butter
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp water

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

Heat oil or butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat.
Add mochi pieces and pan-fry until crispy and golden on all sides (watch out, they puff up!).
In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, sugar, and water. Pour into the pan.
Swirl and simmer until the sauce thickens and coats the mochi.
Serve warm with skewers or toothpicks. Optional sprinkle: sesame seeds or a touch of chili crisp for sweet heat.

✨ Why it hits: The outside gets caramelized and sticky, while the inside stays gooey and chewy. Think mochi popcorn chicken vibes, but sweet.

2. Mochi Sundae Bar (Next-Level Dessert Vibes)

Vibe: Ice cream social but make it ✨cultured✨. This is a party trick OR date night winner—easy to set up, hard to stop eating.

🛒 Ingredients:

Store-bought mochi ice cream (any flavor)
Vanilla or matcha ice cream
Sweet red beans or adzuki paste (optional)
Fresh fruit (strawberries, mango, banana)
Sweetened condensed milk or chocolate sauce
Crushed nuts or sesame seeds
Toasted coconut flakes

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

Cut mochi ice cream into halves or quarters for easy bite-sized options.
Scoop your base ice cream into a bowl or cup.
Layer on fruit, red beans, mochi bites, and your favorite toppings.
Drizzle with condensed milk or chocolate sauce.
Devour immediately (or share, if you must).

🍓 Why it works: The mix of cold + chewy + creamy + crunchy is insane. And it’s basically customizable boba bowl energy without needing to make anything.