Japanese Matcha Green Tea Mochi Ice Cream
Looking for a unique and delicious dessert to impress your guests? Try this recipe for Japanese matcha green tea mochi ice cream. Mochi is a traditional Japanese rice cake made from glutinous rice, and when combined with matcha green tea ice cream, it creates a delightful blend of flavors and textures. This recipe uses high-quality matcha powder for an authentic and rich flavor, and the mochi adds a soft and chewy texture. This dessert is perfect for those who are looking for a sweet and refreshing treat that's both elegant and easy to make. So why not give this Japanese matcha green tea mochi ice cream recipe a try and impress your guests with a unique and delicious dessert!
Japanese Matcha Green Tea Mochi Ice Cream Recipe
If you're a fan of mochi and green tea ice cream, then you'll love this Japanese Matcha Green Tea Mochi Ice Cream recipe that combines the two into a delicious and unique dessert.
Enjoy these matcha mochi ice cream balls as a snack, as a desert, or after some take out sushi. Ice cream always makes me thirsty and so I love to pair these with a refreshing glass of iced matcha, alternatively, try pairing these with one of these tasty teas:
What Does Mochi Mean?
Mochi, also called rice cake, is a Japanese dessert made with glutinous rice flour called mochigome. This glutinous rice flour is usually mixed with sugar and water to create a paste, filled and shaped into little delightful balls. Japanese mochi is usually made for a ceremony called mochitsuki. Mochitsuki is a Japanese new year tradition which involves pounding of sweet rice to make the mochi. Mochi is eaten to bring good fortune for the new year.
What is Mochi Filled With?
Mochi can be filled with various sweet or savory fillings. Traditionally, mochi is filled with a sweet red bean paste known as anko. Mochi can be filled with fruit, caramel or ice cream. Sometimes mochi are served hot and sometimes they are served on skewers, sometimes they are dipped in soy sauce. This recipe is using ice cream as the filing and matcha in the mochi to make the easiest and tastiest matcha mochi ice cream balls. I’m using chocolate ice cream as we love chocolate in this family, however, you can use any flavour of ice cream that takes your fancy.
What is Mochi Ice Cream Made Of?
Just as the name suggests, mochi ice cream is made of mochi and ice cream. Little balls of any flavour of ice cream are wrapped in the mochi sweet rice paste. This mochi ice cream recipe incorporates matcha green tea powder for a wonderful natural bright green color and fabulous flavor.
Is Glutinous Rice Flour Gluten Free?
Despite the name, glutinous rice flour does not contain any gluten. Glutinous rice flour is a sticky starchy rice flour that is naturally gluten free. The glutinous name refers to the sticky and starchy nature of the rice. Whilst it is naturally gluten free, some rice growing near other crops can be cross contaminated and so it is always best to read the label and purchase certified gluten free glutinous rice flour if you have intolerances or allergies.
Do you Have to Thaw The Matcha Mochi Ice Cream?
Mochi ice cream is to be enjoyed chilled but I would suggest leaving on the counter for a minute or two before eating, that way the mochi are not too frozen solid. The matcha mochi ice cream is best eaten when slightly softer so that the wonderful flavours can be tasted.
How do you Eat Matcha Mochi Ice Cream Balls?
You can eat matcha mochi ice cream balls anyway you fancy but I would recommend to cut them into pieces or bite into them. I wouldn’t recommend eating in one go as mochi can be quite chewy and therefore they can be a choking hazard. My children love mochi ice cream but I always cut them up for them to enjoy.
Is Matcha Green Tea a Japanese Tea?
Matcha green tea is a traditional Japanese tea that’s made from freshly ground tea leaves. Matcha is famous for it’s vibrant bright green colour and wonderful strong earthy vegetal taste. Matcha green tea powder is perfect for use in baking and adding to recipes as it is in powder form. Unlike other teas, it can be easily added to recipes without having to infuse the leaves first. Matcha provides such a wonderful flavor and color to many cakes, bakes and these matcha mochi ice cream balls.
How do you Shape the Ice Cream in These Matcha Mochi?
To make mochi ice cream balls, you will first need to scoop mini balls of ice cream using a mini scoop for neat round balls or you can use a spoon. Place the balls on a baking sheet and put them back in the freezer to freeze. You can also use a mini muffin tray lined with cling film. Gently press spoonful’s of ice cream into a lined mini muffin tray. Again, pop them back in the freezer for at least an hour.
How do you Keep Matcha Mochi From Sticking to Your Hands?
Mochi dough is unbelievably sticky and starchy and will stick to everything including your hands, your utensils and anything that it comes into contact with. Using a generous amount of corn flour will help keep the mochi from attaching itself to your hands. Also dusting your worksurface and rolling pin with lots of corn flour will help. Mochi is quite a fiddly dough but corn flour will definitely help tame it.
How to Make Matcha Mochi Ice Cream From Scratch
Making matcha mochi ice cream from scratch is surprisingly straight forward and can be made in just a few simple steps. The hardest part is dealing with the incredibly sticky dough but with the help of a generous amount of corn flour, the dough can be rolled and shaped more easily. The first step when making mochi ice cream is by scooping out the ice cream balls and freezing them. Next make the dough by mixing the glutinous rice flour with the sugar, matcha green tea and water. Cover and place in the microwave for 60 seconds, stir, cover again and microwave for a further 60 seconds. Allow to cool for a few minutes before dusting your worksurface and rolling pin in plenty of corn flour. Roll out the dough. Place in the fridge for up to an hour. The last step is to make the mochi balls by wrapping circles of dough around your ice cream balls. Pinch the ends together and wrap in clingfilm to help keep the shape. Here are some of my tips for making mochi.
Tips for Making my Matcha Mochi Ice Cream
I’m using chocolate ice cream in this recipe as my family are chocolate mad but feel free to use any ice cream that takes your fancy. You can use dairy free ice cream, regular ice cream, sorbet, alternatively you can use a low calorie ice cream such as Halo Top for a healthier dessert.
When rolling out the dough, use corn flour on your worksurface and your rolling pin, otherwise your dough will be a huge sticky mess.
When mixing the dough for the second time out of the microwave, dip your spatula in water so that the dough doesn’t stick to the spatula.
This recipe will make around 10-16 mochi balls depending on how big or small your cookie cutter and balls of ice cream are.
Getting the right size balls and cutter/cup may take a little preparation. Here’s a little tip: use a cutter/cup that’s one inch bigger than your scoop of ice cream. I’m using a 1.5 inch scoop and a 2.5 inch cup. This allows the right amount of dough to wrap around your ice cream without too much excess overlap of the dough.
When wrapping your ice cream in the mochi dough, you may find it easier to dip your fingers in a little water to help seal the edges together.
You will have to work quick with the ice cream as they will start to melt quickly. I find it easiest if I cut all the round shapes first and then wrap 3-6 ice cream balls at a time. Place those back in the freezer and then work on the remaining ice cream mochi balls.
Your mochi balls will not be very neat the first time that you make them. The more you make them, the better they will get. My mochi balls are never very neat but they do taste delicious!
How to Make Matcha Green Tea Mochi Ice Cream From Scratch
Here’s a step by step guide on how to make matcha green tea mochi ice cream from scratch:
INGREDIENTS (Makes 12)
2 teaspoons of matcha green tea powder
1-1.5 cups of ice cream - any flavour
1 cup of rice flour
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of white granulated sugar
Cornstarch for dusting
METHOD
First, make the ice cream balls. Using a spoon or a mini ice cream scoop, scoop out 12-16 balls of ice cream and place in the freezer for later.
Next, make the mochi dough. In a microwave safe bowl, add the glutinous rice flour, sugar, matcha green tea powder and water. Mix the ingredients together with a whisk and ensure that everything is combined and that there are no lumps.
Place a lid on the bowl or cover with cling film and microwave for 60 seconds. Remove from the microwave and whisk the dough to ensure that the mixture is cooking evenly.
Cover again and microwave for a further 60 seconds. Take care when removing from the microwave as the dough will be very hot.
Once the bowl and dough is cool enough to touch (after around 5 minutes) it is ready to roll out. Tip: dip your spatula in water to help unstick your dough from the bowl.
Cover the worksurface with a piece of parchment paper and dust a good amount of corn starch on top. Place the dough on the cornstarch and dust another generous amount of corn starch on top. Also dust your rolling pin and your hands because the dough will stick to everything!
Roll out your dough to a rectangle about 12 inches by 8-9 inches and 1/4 inch in thickness. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes so that it is cool enough to wrap the ice cream.
Now it’s time to make your mochi balls. Cut your dough into 12-16 circles using a cookie cutter or a cup. Brush off the excess corn starch. Wrap your ice cream balls in the dough and pinch the ends together. Tightly wrap the mochi balls in cling film and place in a mini muffin pan to help keep the shape.
Place the mochi balls in the freezer and allow to freeze for at least 1-2 hours before serving.
Read More Matcha Green Tea Recipes
It is important to note that any health advice provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine, or overall health. The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice.