How long do you cook daifuku?

May 12, 2005 12:14 PM

A co-worker brought back a box of "Chocolate Daifuku" from Tokyo. She thinks we need to microwave this stuff, in order to "puff it up" and eat it. Question, is she right? How long do we need to cook it? Why did she bring back foodstuffs that she didn't know how to eat?
posted by dhacker to Food & Drink (9 answers total)

On the box, is it just blobs of ice cream covered in a thin layer of rice dough? 'Cause that's the kind of Daifuku I've had. It's awesome. It looks like this.

According to this article, there are two kinds of Daifuku...the traditional pastry stuffed with red bean jam, and Yukimi Daifuku, the ice cream stuff I've had. So I'd venture a guess that yours is the red bean jam stuff, in which case I have no idea what you do with it. Have fun!
posted by stray at 12:29 PM on May 12, 2005

Don't microwave them. They should be okay to eat the way they are.
posted by Alison at 12:30 PM on May 12, 2005

I don't know about microwaving it, but here's some info on daifuku.

Why'd she bring back something she didn't know how to eat? Because she thought it was interesting and weird and a fun souvenir, you sourpuss.
posted by Specklet at 12:33 PM on May 12, 2005

Response by poster: Hmm, there is a package inside the package that looks like desiccant moisture remover. It says "Do not cook" on it, leading us to assume that we should cook the rest of it. They look a little flat and lifeless in there and need to be puffy. Maybe we should just eat away. Sourpuss? no way, I'll be first in line to try it out!
posted by dhacker at 12:35 PM on May 12, 2005

It all depends on if you like/want the red bean paste in the middle to be warm or not.
posted by terrapin at 12:49 PM on May 12, 2005

All the daifuku I've had has come in a package like this and I have never microwaved it.
posted by curse at 12:50 PM on May 12, 2005

Daifuku require no heating, and are meant to be eaten just as they are. You might not dig them, though-- Western tastes don't usually expect things like that. If you don't like them, by all means send the rest to me.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:14 PM on May 12, 2005

I'm a westerner who loves Daifuku (and have never been to Japan). So don't send it all to Faint of Butt. :)

If it's soft, then you don't need microwave it.

The uncooked stuff is as hard as a rock, and can probably be cooked in a microwave, although I think a toaster oven works better. (cook until puffy.)

Let us know how you like it!
posted by luneray at 1:26 PM on May 12, 2005

I think the outer rice dough layer is the same as Mochi if you search on this site for "Daifuku" the first recipe is this .Mochi can be steamed grilled or baked....I would try Putting them on a griddle with a few drops of water and covering over medium heat, or steaming. Mochi can be really sticky.
posted by flummox at 5:31 PM on May 12, 2005