Chīzu Imomochi with Soy Glaze (Printable)

Golden potato mochi filled with melty cheese, glazed in sticky soy-honey sauce. Comfort food at its finest.

# What You 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 to combine.
03 - Add potato starch to mashed potatoes and knead until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Add additional starch if dough 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 are golden brown, 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.
07 - Transfer to serving plate while warm. Optionally garnish with sliced scallions or toasted sesame seeds.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between crispy golden edges and that molten cheese center is wildly satisfying.
  • You only need a handful of pantry staples and about forty minutes from start to finish.
  • They taste like comfort but look impressive enough to serve to guests without breaking a sweat.
02 -
  • If your dough feels too wet to handle, don't panic, just add starch a teaspoon at a time until it's workable but still soft.
  • Seal the cheese cubes tightly or they'll leak out during frying and make a mess of your pan.
  • Don't skip the mashing step, lumps in the dough will ruin the chewy texture you're aiming for.
03 -
  • Use a nonstick or well-seasoned cast iron skillet to prevent sticking and get an even golden crust on all sides.
  • Let the dough rest for a few minutes after kneading if it feels too sticky, it'll firm up slightly as it cools.
  • Don't crowd the pan when frying, give each dumpling enough space to brown properly without steaming.
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