Green Tea Mochi with Red Bean

Ingredients

Makes 8 mochi

For red bean paste:

• 1 cup red beans
• 3 cups water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 salt
• 3 tbsp corn syrup

For mochi:

• 1 cup Mochiko sweet rice flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 tsp green tea powder
• 1 cup potato starch
• 1 tbsp powdered sugar

Method

Prepare for the red bean paste:

1. Wash the red beans 2-3 times and drain well. Set aside.
2. In a pot, add the water, beans, and bring to a boil over medium high heat for about 15 minutes.
3. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are soft. Adjust the water if the beans are not soft enough to mash with a fork. 
4. Add in the sugar, salt, and corn syrup, and mix well with the beans.
5. Mash the cooked beans in a food processor until they are smooth.
6. Roll 1 tbsp of red bean paste into 8 balls. Set them aside.

Prepare for the mochi:

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine sweet rice flour, salt, sugar, water, and green tea powder. Mix until smooth!
2. Cover with a plastic wrap loosely, and microwave for 2 minutes. Remove it from microwave and stir to check if it's set. Mochi is slightly transparent and very sticky now.                   
3. Pound the mochi with a roller pin for about 5 to 10 minutes to make chewy.
4. Remove the mochi with a spatula (dipping it in the water before handling the sticky mochi.)
5. Put the mochi on a work surface with potato starch, then stretch it gently and turn it over and coat with more starch.
6. Cut the mochi into 8 equal pieces with a pastry scraper. Cover them with a plastic wrap.
7. Dust your hands with potato starch, and work one at a time, flatten it into a disc about 3" in diameter.
8. Place 1 red bean ball in the center of the disc, and bring sides up and seal it by pinching the edges with your fingers. Shape the mochi into a ball. Repeat for all 8.
9. Serve it with tea of your choices.