Chīzu Imomochi Cheese Potato Mochi (Printable Version)

Chewy potato mochi with melty cheese center, pan-fried golden and glazed with sweet-savory soy-honey sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Dumplings

01 - 14 oz russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
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 Make It:

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, incorporate butter and salt, mixing well until combined.
03 - Add potato starch to mashed potatoes and knead until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Add additional starch incrementally if the mixture is too sticky.
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 coloring, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
06 - In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, mirin, and rice vinegar. Pour glaze into skillet with dumplings. Toss gently to coat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until sauce thickens and glazes the dumplings.
07 - Transfer to serving dish while warm. Optionally garnish with sliced scallions or toasted sesame seeds.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cheese pull when you bite into one is absolutely worth the tiny bit of effort.
  • It uses pantry staples and transforms them into something that feels special without being fussy.
02 -
  • If the dough feels too wet to handle, let it cool for a few minutes before shaping, it firms up as it sits.
  • Don't overfill the dumplings or the cheese will burst out during frying, a small cube is plenty.
03 -
  • Use a nonstick skillet or a well-seasoned cast iron pan to prevent sticking and get an even golden crust.
  • If the glaze starts to burn, lower the heat immediately and add a tiny splash of water to loosen it.
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