Microwave Matcha Mochi Balls

(makes 15-18)

So i have a couple of friends that love this squishy gelatinous ball dessert. I think these turned out more like mochi blobs than balls, but not too bad for the first try.. i think i needed to knead it with glutinous rice flour instead of just corn-starch, and maybe needed to knead for a bit longer until it was a firmer consistency... but nonetheless, was fun to experiment for the first time, and was delicious with ice-cream! You can flavour them with green-tea powder, or fill them with red-bean paste or peanut paste.. might try that next time!

Prep time: 15 min

Cooking time: 15 min

Ingredients:

1 C cold water

1 C glutinous rice flour

1/2 C caster sugar

2-3 T green tea powder (optional)

Method:

1. Mix the cold water, rice flour and sugar in a microwave-safe container. 

NB. Mix in the green tea powder at this stage if you are making green-tea flavoured mochi. Or you can make a plain mixture and dust later if you are making different flavours.

2. Seal with glad-wrap or an air-tight lid. 

3. Microwave for 2-3 minutes until it's firm. If it's not, then continue to microwave for 30 sec at a time. Let it rest for 3-5 minutes.

4. Prepare a tray or surface with baking paper and use corn-flour to cover the surface to prevent sticking.

5. Wet your hands and a spatula and slowly pry the mixture out of the container onto the floured surface. Let it rest/cool for another 2-3 minutes. Flip it over and dust off any excess flour. Let it rest again for another 2-3 minutes.

6. Add a few T of glutinous rice flour onto the dough and knead it until it is a soft, smooth, but bouncy consistency. Continue adding rice flour/corn flour until the consistency is right. Roll out into a long thin log.

7. Use a sharp knife and cut it half length-wise, then continue to cut into small bite-size pieces of your preference. Roll them into small balls, and you can dust them in green-tea powder if you want (though i found this was a bit too dry but maybe that's personal taste?)