Ichigo Daifuku Recipe: Strawberry Delight

If you ever encountered those gorgeous mochis with strawberries peeking out, those are the ichigo daifuku. 

Daifuku is a mochi variation that has been a favourite of generations in Japan. The side is slightly bigger and sweeter than your typical mochi. It means ‘great luck’ in English, which people give this treat as presents for blessings. 

One of the most recognizable types is the ichigo daifuku, with a whole strawberry filled in the centre. You can find both concealed and exposed strawberry daifuku in traditional Japanese sweet stores. Even so, they share the same delectable taste. Here we guide you along to make ichigo daifuku with a simple recipe. If you have mastered the mochi recipe, this will be easy for you to handle.

Ichigo Daifuku Recipe

Prep Time

25 mins

Cooking Time

5 mins

Total

30 mins

Serving

4

Ingredients AND TOOLS

• 4 strawberries

• ½ cup of red bean paste (anko paste)

• ¼ cup of glutinous rice flour

• 5 tbsp of white sugar

• 1/3 cup of water

• Cornstarch for dusting

• Parchment-lined tray

Instructions

• Wash the strawberries thoroughly and remove the stem. Dry them with a kitchen towel.
• Divide the red bean paste into 4 pieces and roll them into spherical shapes before flattening them.
• Place the strawberries with the point facing upwards and wrap them with the paste. Leave the tip exposed in the air so you can identify the strawberries’ position.
• Place the covered strawberries on top of the parchment-lined tray and cover with a cling film. Store the tray in the fridge.
• Pour the glutinous rice flour into a microwave-safe bowl. Stir it with water, then sugar. Mix the ingredients until smooth.
• Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and heat the mixture in the microwave for 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Afterwards, stir the dough and heat for another 15 seconds. Alternatively, you can steam the mixture on top of a boiling pot.
• Before working on your mochi, dust your work surface with cornstarch.
• While hot, begin to divide the mochi dough into 6 equal parts and roll them into balls. Then, flatten the mochi balls to the size of your palm.
• Retrieve the red bean covered strawberries from the freezer and set them on the flatten mochi with the strawberry tip facing down.
• Cover the mochi and repeat the steps with 3 other mochis.
• Keep in the fridge for an hour before serving.

Alternative Fillings

Some might not like the taste of red beans or could not find any red bean paste in the grocery stores. Nonetheless, we provide alternatives to your ichigo daifuku fillings. 

• Chocolate: Dip the strawberry in a bowl of melted chocolate and set aside to dry
• Cream: If you prefer a creamier mochi, you can stabilize the cream by placing the strawberries and cream in a spherical silicone mold

Once you have perfected your ichigo daifuku recipe, you can line them in a box or container. This would be the best gift for your relatives and friends who have finished college or getting a job promotion.

Find out more food recipes and tips at LokaEats.