Yes, You Can Make Mochi in a Microwave—Plus, Other Crazy-Easy Asian Desserts
Author Kat Lieu shows us how to make a trio of the easy, delicious Asian desserts that have earned her a dedicated following online.
© 2022 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Text © 2022 Kathleen Lieu Photography © 2022 Nicole Soper Photography
Picture This: You’re in a hurry to get to a gathering, maybe a backyard barbecue or wine night with friends, when you realize you’re going to arrive empty-handed. You forgot to make dessert.
There’s a simple and delicious solution to this last-minute emergency: colorful microwavable mochi from popular online baker Kat Lieu—and it only requires seven ingredients you may already have on hand.
The recipe is just one of various sweet and savory treats in Lieu’s cookbook, Modern Asian Baking at Home: Essential Sweet and Savory Recipes for Milk Bread, Mochi, Mooncakes, and More. From velvety chocolates inspired by the nama (or “fresh”) chocolates from Japanese brand Royce to berry-matcha cream bars, it’s a “straight-from-the-heart collection of recipes” that Lieu encourages readers to “steam, fry, boil, and bake” their way through.
© 2022 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Text © 2022 Kathleen Lieu Photography © 2022 Jake Young
The desserts are a mix of original creations and inspired adaptations from members of the online community that Lieu founded, Subtle Asian Baking. (You can find it on Facebook or on Instagram @subtleasian.baking.) “I saw a need for an online community where beginner and experienced home bakers could share, search for, and obsess over Asian baking,” Lieu writes in the book’s introduction. “I knew I had to build this community, one that would bridge cultures and help people collaborate, innovate, learn, and get instant inspiration.”
Launched in 2020, the group saw more than 100,000 members across the globe join its Facebook page in less than a year, according to Lieu. “Members have curated and shared thousands of essential Asian sweet and savory baking recipes, along with countless heartwarming stories,” she adds. To taste what it’s all about, try your hand at these sweet and simple recipes.
Delicious Asian Desserts to Make at Home:
Quick Microwave Mochi
“Mochi (rice cake) was once considered a sacred food in Japan,” writes Kat Lieu. “Now it is eaten all year round. When I traveled across Japan, I loved sampling many varieties of mochi: daifuku, warabimochi, sakuramochi—I can go into detail about each type, but then I’ll have to write a second book! Feel free to experiment with this recipe. Flatten the mochi dough into discs and then fill them with your favorite savory or sweet fillings, like ice cream. I know you’ll have so mochi fun. (Yes, I had to go there.) To change the color of your mochi, mix in food coloring gel or colored food powders.”
Berry Matcha Cream Bars
“One bite of these dreamy creamy bars and I’m transported to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo during the springtime when sakura are in full bloom,” says Lieu. “This berry cream layer atop a buttery and earthy shortbread combo is, without a doubt, a matcha made in heaven. This recipe is adapted from one found on SAB by Hali Mo (@halicopteraway on Instagram).”
Nama Chocolates
“Before I leave Narita Airport on my return trips from Japan, I always stock up on Royce’s famous nama chocolates,” Lieu says. “These confections are the epitome of perfect velvety chocolate truffles. I love biting into a soft nama chocolate and letting the ganache melt on my tongue. I’m a sucker for anything comforting and delicious yet simply made. This recipe is inspired by Royce’s nama chocolates.”
If You Want a Second Helping
© 2022 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Text © 2022 Kathleen Lieu Photography © 2022 Nicole Soper Photography
For more great recipes, pick up a copy of Modern Asian Baking at Home: Essential Sweet and Savory Recipes for Milk Bread, Mochi, Mooncakes, and More ($25, Quarry Books) at your local independent bookseller.
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