The Ohagi, or Japanese Rice Balls, is a mixture of a dessert kids will love, with nutrients that are good for them. It’s the easiest way to make them eat something healthy.
The healthy recipe combines sugar, rice, and beans that can be molded into a kid-sized dessert that will surely make them want for more! Kids have the option to dip these in different toppings like the chia seeds and sweet peas.
Japanese Rice Balls
Makes: 6 servings (2 rice balls per serving)
Ingredients for Red Bean Paste
- 15 ounces Kidney Beans, Drained
- 1 Tbsp. White Sugar
Ingredients for Rice Balls
- 1 cup of Water
- 3/4 cup Sweet Rice
- Dried Topping Ingredients (optional)
- 1 tsp. Chia Seeds
- 1 tsp. Sweet Peas
- 1 tsp. Almonds
- 1 tsp. Black Sesame Seeds
Instructions For Red Bean Paste:
- In medium heat, mix the kidney beans and sugar together in a pot.
- Use a potato masher on the beans as you stir thoroughly.
- Cook until the paste is slightly firm.
- Once cooked, put the bean paste in the refrigerator until it cools and hardens.
- Instructions For Rice Balls:
- Combine water and rice in a pot, stir to mix and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, let sit for 10-15 minutes on low heat or until water is absorbed.
- Use mortar and pestle to crush rice with water until it’s halfway mushed.
- Flatten 1 teaspoon of bean paste in your palm.
- Put a small amount of the rice you mashed in the middle and roll the bean paste to a ball until it fully covers the rice.
- Optional, roll bean past and rice ball with the toppings of your choice. Either Chia seed, almonds, sesame seeds, or sweet peas.