Making songpyeon is among the most cherished traditions of Chuseok, the Korean harvest pageant. These stunning half moon rice truffles are gentle, chewy, and full of candy fillings like sesame seeds, crimson bean paste, or chestnuts.

Rising up, I bear in mind sitting across the kitchen flooring with my household, shaping each bit fastidiously and sneaking little tastes of the fillings alongside the way in which. This recipe brings that cozy custom into your personal kitchen, so you possibly can benefit from the taste of Korea’s harvest season wherever you might be.

What’s Songpyeon

Songpyeon (송편) is a kind of Korean rice cake historically made for Chuseok, Korea’s harvest pageant. Households collect to make them collectively, shaping gentle rice dough into small half moons full of candy fillings. The form carries a particular which means. It’s mentioned to represent progress and abundance, like a waxing moon that turns into fuller with time.

Why This Recipe

Making songpyeon at residence can really feel intimidating, however my recipe retains it easy and dependable, even for those who don’t have entry to a Korean rice mill or recent pine needles.

I’ll present you the best way to make gentle, chewy rice truffles utilizing selfmade moist milled rice flour and pure colorings like matcha and purple candy potato. The feel seems fantastically tender, and the method is simpler than you would possibly suppose! It’s excellent for celebrating Chuseok wherever you might be.

Substances

Dough

• 3 cups rice flour (made out of quick grain rice), see ‘Ideas’ for particulars
• 2 1/2 Tbsp glutinous rice flour
• 1/8 tsp superb salt
• 1 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• About 6 Tbsp boiled water, added steadily till the dough comes collectively (it’s possible you’ll want barely kind of)
• (non-compulsory) 1/2 tsp purple candy potato powder or matcha powder

Honey Sesame Filling

• 2 tsp roasted soybean powder (konggaru)
• 1/8 tsp superb salt
• 3 Tbsp darkish brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp Korean rice syrup (or honey)
• 3 Tbsp sesame seeds, grounded

Candy Purple Bean Paste Filling

• About 160 g (5.6 oz) candy crimson bean paste (use my selfmade model or retailer purchased)

Ending

• Just a few drops of sesame oil, for brushing

* 1 cup = 250ml

** Every of the filling substances are sufficient for twenty-four–27 songpyeon, so for those who make each fillings, you’ll have sufficient for about 54 items. Double the dough substances for those who’d like to make use of each fillings.

Methods to Make Songpyeon

1. Make the dough
In a medium bowl, mix the rice flour, glutinous rice flour, salt, sugar, and any non-compulsory powder you’re utilizing to paint the dough. Add about 1 tablespoon of boiling water at a time, sprinkling it over the driest areas of the flour. Stir and blend, then add one other splash over the dry spots. Preserve repeating till the combination begins to return collectively right into a dough.

Knead the dough with clear arms till it feels very easy and pliable. The extra you knead, the bouncier and chewier the feel might be as soon as steamed. Cowl with a moist towel (or loosely drape a plastic bag) and let it relaxation for 10 minutes whilst you put together the filling.

2. Make the filling

Choice 1: Honey Sesame Filling
In a small bowl, mix the roasted soybean powder, salt, darkish brown sugar, rice syrup, and sesame seeds. Combine till all the pieces is evenly coated and the combination has a moist, sandy consistency. It gained’t type a agency paste, nevertheless it must be simple to scoop with a spoon. Put aside.

Choice 2: Candy Purple Bean Filling
In the event you’re utilizing candy crimson bean paste, scoop about 1 teaspoon (about 6g / 0.21 oz) parts and roll them into small balls. Put aside on a tray whilst you put together the dough. (You will discover my full recipe for selfmade candy crimson bean paste right here.)

3. Form the songpyeon
Pinch off a small piece of dough, about 20 g (walnut measurement). For even-sized rice truffles, portion out all of the dough first and hold the items lined with a moist towel or free plastic drape in order that they don’t dry out.

Roll each bit right into a easy ball, then flatten it right into a small disc about 5 cm / 2 inches extensive. Place about 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of filling within the center. Gently fold the sides up across the filling and convey them collectively, then reshape right into a easy oval or ball between your fingers. Pinch the sides to seal firmly, and retaining the sides barely thinner than the middle.

4. Steam
Line a steamer with a moist cotton material or perforated silicon mat. In case you have recent pine needles, you should use them a number of below the songpyeon for perfume, however that is non-compulsory. Organize the songpyeon in order that they don’t contact one another. Steam over medium for quarter-hour, till the floor appears barely shiny.

5. Set and end
When the songpyeon are accomplished steaming, fastidiously take away them from the steamer. In the event you used a liner or material, carry the sides to take them out simply with out tearing.

Allow them to cool till they’re snug to deal with, then frivolously brush or rub with a bit sesame oil to maintain them shiny and stop sticking. Songpyeon style greatest as soon as they’ve rested at room temperature for about an hour after steaming.

Methods to Retailer

Songpyeon are greatest loved the identical day they’re made, when the feel is gentle and chewy. In case you have leftovers, retailer them in an hermetic container.

Fridge: They’ll hold for as much as 2 days, however the texture will agency up because the rice starch tightens when chilled. To convey them again to their gentle, bouncy state, re-steam for 3–5 minutes earlier than serving.

Freezer: For longer storage, you possibly can freeze songpyeon for as much as 1 month. Place them in a single layer on a tray to freeze first, then switch to an hermetic container or freezer bag. When able to eat, steam from frozen for about 8-10 minutes, or till gentle and chewy once more.

Keep away from microwaving if attainable. It heats inconsistently and may make the rice truffles powerful or rubbery.

Useful Ideas for Making Songpyeon

Right here are some things that may assist as you make your songpyeon. These are small particulars, however they make a giant distinction, from getting the best dough texture and shade to retaining the rice truffles from sticking or cracking.

• Selecting the Proper Rice Flour

Songpyeon dough depends on the feel of freshly milled short-grain rice flour. The sort historically made by wet-milling soaked rice, not the dry store-bought sort you usually see at your native grocery store. In the event you use common rice flour, the dough can flip crumbly or crack throughout shaping and steaming.

After I make songpyeon, I all the time put together my very own moist milled quick grain rice flour. You possibly can comply with my step-by-step information on the best way to make moist milled rice flour. It’s the identical methodology I take advantage of for garaetteok (rice truffles).

In the event you’re in Korea, native rice mills (known as bangatgan, 방앗간) or conventional markets promote freshly wet-milled rice flour for songpyeon. That’s the best form to make use of.

• Naturally Coloring Your Dough

You possibly can naturally tint your songpyeon dough with colourful substances. It’s a enjoyable technique to have fun the season. Attempt matcha (inexperienced tea powder) for gentle inexperienced, purple candy potato powder for a fairly lilac hue, or turmeric powder for a delicate golden tone. Conventional colours additionally come from mugwort (ssuk powder) for earthy inexperienced, beet powder for pink, or pumpkin powder for a heat yellow orange tone.

You don’t want so as to add a lot of those coloured powders. Simply 1/2 teaspoon is sufficient for 3 cups of rice flour!

Powders can barely change how a lot water the dough wants (only a contact extra), so add the water steadily and alter as you go. Goal for a easy, pliable dough with gentle, pure shade relatively than shiny or synthetic tones.

• Getting the dough excellent

Completely different rice flours take in water a bit otherwise relying on how recent and finely milled they’re. That’s why it’s vital so as to add the boiling water steadily, about 1 tablespoon at a time, as an alternative of pouring all of it in directly. You’ll discover the dough slowly coming collectively because it hydrates. It ought to really feel heat, gentle, and pliable, not crumbly or sticky. If it appears dry and cracks while you press it, add only a few extra drops of scorching water and knead once more till easy.

I’ve all the time cherished honey sesame filling. It’s been my favourite since childhood. On this recipe, I used Korean rice syrup (jocheong, 조청) as an alternative of honey as a result of I discover it really works even higher. Honey can typically overpower the fragile, nutty taste of the sesame seeds, whereas rice syrup retains the sweetness mild and balanced.

If something, it enhances the nuttiness much more. I additionally combine in roasted soybean powder, which provides a beautiful depth and rounds out the flavour together with the sesame seeds.

In the event you’re not into the honey sesame taste, attempt candy crimson bean paste or chestnuts as an alternative. These are all widespread fillings for songpyeon.

A moist cotton material or a perforated silicone liner works greatest to maintain the rice truffles from sticking to the steamer. Each create a delicate barrier that lets the steam flow into evenly with out including oil, so the songpyeon prepare dinner by fantastically and keep easy on the floor. In the event you’re utilizing material, make certain it’s simply damp, not dripping. This prevents extra moisture from making the rice truffles soggy.

• Why is my dough cracking?

There are a number of attainable causes, however in my expertise, the steaming temperature is usually the principle trigger. If the steam is just too sturdy, the songpyeon can broaden too rapidly and crack. I’ve discovered that steaming over medium warmth for about quarter-hour provides far more secure outcomes. The gentler steam lets the rice truffles prepare dinner evenly and maintain their form fantastically.

It might additionally assist to verify two smaller issues:

– Don’t overfill each bit. An excessive amount of filling can stretch the dough and make sealing tougher.
– Preserve the dough lined with a moist towel or plastic wrap whilst you form, so it doesn’t dry out and type tiny cracks earlier than steaming.

Extra Korean Rice Cake Recipes You’ll Love

• Chapssaltteok (Purple Bean Mochi): Gentle, chewy, and full of candy crimson bean paste. It’s a easy deal with that’s all the time a favourite.
• Tteokbokki (Spicy Korean Rice Muffins): Chewy rice truffles simmered in a spicy, barely candy gochujang sauce. One in every of Korea’s most cherished avenue meals.
• Garaetteok (Korean Cylinder Rice Muffins): Plain white rice truffles with a gentle, chewy texture. It’s excellent for making tteokbokki or tteokguk.
• Tteokguk (Korean Rice Cake Soup): A heat, comforting soup made with sliced rice truffles. It’s historically loved to have fun the Lunar New 12 months.

Candy Purple Bean Paste Filling

• Make the dough – In a medium bowl, mix the rice flour, glutinous rice flour, salt, sugar, and any non-compulsory powder you’re utilizing to paint the dough. Add about 1 tablespoon of boiling water at a time, sprinkling it over the driest areas of the flour. Stir and blend, then add one other splash over the dry spots. Preserve repeating till the combination begins to return collectively right into a dough. Knead the dough with clear arms till it feels very easy and pliable. The extra you knead, the bouncier and chewier the feel might be as soon as steamed. Cowl with a moist towel (or loosely drape a plastic bag) and let it relaxation for 10 minutes whilst you put together the filling.
• Make the filling – Choice 1: Honey Sesame Filling. In a small bowl, mix the roasted soybean powder, salt, darkish brown sugar, rice syrup, and sesame seeds. Combine till all the pieces is evenly coated and the combination has a moist, sandy consistency. It gained’t type a agency paste, nevertheless it must be simple to scoop with a spoon. Put aside. Choice 2: Candy Purple Bean Filling. In the event you’re utilizing candy crimson bean paste, scoop about 1 teaspoon (about 6g / 0.21 oz) parts and roll them into small balls. Put aside on a tray whilst you put together the dough. (You will discover my full recipe for selfmade candy crimson bean paste right here.)
• Form the songpyeon – Pinch off a small piece of dough, about 20 g (walnut measurement). For even-sized rice truffles, portion out all of the dough first and hold the items lined with a moist towel or free plastic drape in order that they don’t dry out.Roll each bit right into a easy ball, then flatten it right into a small disc about 5 cm / 2 inches extensive. Place about 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of filling within the center. Gently fold the sides up across the filling and convey them collectively, then reshape right into a easy oval or ball between your fingers. Pinch the sides to seal firmly, and retaining the sides barely thinner than the middle.

• Steam – Line a steamer with a moist cotton material or perforated silicon mat. In case you have recent pine needles, you should use them a number of below the songpyeon for perfume, however that is non-compulsory. Organize the songpyeon in order that they don’t contact one another. Steam over medium for quarter-hour, till the floor appears barely shiny.

• Set and end – When the songpyeon are accomplished steaming, fastidiously take away them from the steamer. In the event you used a liner or material, carry the sides to take them out simply with out tearing. Allow them to cool till they’re snug to deal with, then frivolously brush or rub with a bit sesame oil to maintain them shiny and stop sticking. Songpyeon style greatest as soon as they’ve rested at room temperature for about an hour after steaming.

• 1 cup = 250 ml
• Every of the filling substances are sufficient for twenty-four–27 songpyeon, so for those who make each fillings, you’ll have sufficient for about 54 items. Double the dough substances for those who’d like to make use of each fillings.

Energy: 83kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fats: 1g | Saturated Fats: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 0.3g | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.2mg

The diet data proven is an estimate supplied by a web based diet calculator. It shouldn’t be thought of an alternative to an expert nutritionist’s recommendation.

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