Chīzu Imomochi with Soy-Honey Glaze (Printable Version)

Chewy potato mochi filled with cheese, pan-fried golden, and glazed with sweet soy-honey sauce. Pure comfort!

# What You'll 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 Steps:

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, add butter and salt, then mix well.
03 - Add potato starch to mashed potatoes and knead until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Add additional starch if dough remains too sticky.
04 - Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. 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 achieve golden brown coloring, 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 and adheres to dumplings.
07 - Transfer dumplings to serving plate while warm. Optionally garnish with sliced scallions or toasted sesame seeds.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • They taste like a cross between a dumpling and a hash brown, with gooey cheese hidden inside that stays warm forever.
  • The soy-honey glaze adds a sticky sweetness that makes them impossible to stop eating.
  • You only need a handful of ingredients, and most of them are pantry staples.
  • They reheat beautifully in a skillet, so leftovers (if there are any) are just as good the next day.
02 -
  • Make sure the dough is still warm when you add the starch, it makes kneading easier and the texture comes out smoother.
  • Seal the cheese cubes tightly or they will ooze out during frying and stick to the pan.
  • Do not rush the frying step, medium heat gives you time to get a crispy crust without burning.
  • The glaze thickens fast, so have everything ready before you pour it in.
03 -
  • Use a nonstick or well-seasoned cast iron skillet to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
  • If the glaze starts to burn, lower the heat immediately and add a splash of water to loosen it.
  • For a vegan version, swap in plant-based butter and vegan mozzarella, the texture stays almost identical.
  • Press the dumplings gently with a spatula while frying to flatten them slightly and create more crispy surface area.
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