Honey-Sesame Topokki feature a type of rice cake known as topokki in Japan or tteok in Korea. These cylindrical shaped rice cakes are made from mochi and are popular across much of Asia. Mochi is steamed rice that’s pounded into a smooth paste. The mochi is then formed into small cylindrical cakes to make topokki.
Topokki, like Japanese mochi, is usually sold in air tight bags. Before cooking they are sold, smooth and hard – they feel like hard plastic to the touch. But when cooked in liquid they soften up and absorb the liquid, and they almost have the consistency of taffy.
It is often cooked as a main course with hot sauce, and it also goes great in stir fries. But for me, I love it served as a dessert of a snack. The topokki absorbs the butter and honey used in this recipe and it makes an absolutely delicious dessert.
if you don’t care for sesame seeds you can omit them altogether, but you can add a pinch of sesame oil or a teaspoon of tahini to get a sesame taste without the added texture of the seeds.
Be user to use salted butter or if you use unsalted butter, add in 1/4 tsp of salt – the sweet and salty mix really enhances the flavor.
Honey-Sesame Topokki is best served hot – the topokki stays soft like taffy and the honey and butter are absorbed into the mochi and the flavors and textures combine perfectly. But keep in mind that this can be a very filling snack as well – there is quite a bit of rice that goes into each piece.
Give this recipe a try – it makes a great snack or dessert. Let me know what you think in the comments section.