Daifuku is a type of mochi. "Daifuku" in Japanese means good fortune, so it is a Japanese sweet with an auspicious name, often given as a gift or on special occasions. Daifuku is also very popular in Thailand, loved for its cute look and delicious taste.
A Sweet of Good Fortune
The Japanese believe daifuku is a lucky sweet, because in Japanese "dai" means big and "fuku" means good fortune. Together they carry the auspicious meaning of "great good luck". Daifuku has become very popular in Thailand, and some provinces have even made it a famous local souvenir, thanks to its cute shape and delicious, novel flavour. Daifuku originated in Japan, where it is used on auspicious occasions such as weddings and the Japanese tea ceremony to express blessings and good wishes, since it is believed to bring good fortune.
Daifuku or Mochi?
Many people wonder about this, and some call daifuku "mochi", which is not wrong at all. Daifuku really is mochi, made from the same mochi dough, or glutinous rice flour. The difference is that it is stuffed with various fillings to make it tastier and more appealing. Importantly, the dough wrapped around the filling must not be too thin, or it will turn hard rather than soft. And don't overfill it: get the amount just right, or it will be too sweet and less delicious.
Strawberry Red Bean Daifuku Recipe
Ingredients
- 200 g glutinous rice flour
- 50 g tapioca starch
- 90 g sugar
- 240 ml clean water
- 300 g red beans
- 150 g sugar for the red beans
- 15 strawberries
1. Wrap the Strawberries
- Boil the red beans until soft, then blend until smooth. Cook, stirring, with the sugar to sweeten the daifuku filling until thick and sticky.
- Leave to cool, then wrap the paste completely around each strawberry.
2. Cook the Daifuku Dough
- Mix the glutinous rice flour, sugar and water, then cook over the heat, stirring, for about 5 minutes until sticky.
- Once sticky, remove from the heat and pour the dough onto a tray dusted with tapioca starch. Divide into equal pieces, and your daifuku dough is ready.
3. Assemble the Daifuku
- Press each piece of dough into a flat sheet and wrap it completely around a red bean-covered strawberry.
- Once wrapped, your strawberry red bean daifuku is done.
If you love sweets, you won't want to miss daifuku: delightful from its look and shape right through to its unforgettable taste. What dessert lover could resist?
