Chīzu Imomochi Cheese Potato Mochi (Print version)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Dumplings

01 - 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and chopped (14 oz)
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:

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 the mashed potatoes and knead until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. If too sticky, incorporate additional starch gradually.
04 - Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a disc, position 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 color, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
06 - In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, mirin, and rice vinegar. Pour glaze into the skillet with dumplings. Toss gently to coat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the dumplings.
07 - Transfer to serving dish while warm. Optionally garnish with sliced scallions or toasted sesame seeds.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It uses everyday pantry staples and comes together faster than waiting for delivery.
  • The contrast between crispy golden edges and gooey melted cheese is genuinely addictive.
  • You can make the dough ahead and fry them fresh whenever a craving hits.
02 -
  • Don't skip mashing the potatoes while they're hot, cold potatoes won't absorb the starch properly and the dough will crack.
  • Seal the cheese cubes completely or they'll burst out during frying and make a mess of your pan.
  • Keep the heat at medium when frying, too high and the outside burns before the inside warms through.
03 -
  • Wet your hands lightly when shaping the dumplings so the dough doesn't stick to your fingers.
  • If the glaze gets too thick or starts to burn, add a teaspoon of water and swirl the pan to loosen it.
  • For a vegan version, swap in plant-based butter and vegan mozzarella, the texture stays nearly identical.
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