Halloween Daifuku

How about trying these ghostly daifuku treats this Halloween. They are super easy to make, and are the perfect Halloween wagashi.
Soft mochi and sweet bean paste covers a delicious organic fig. You can use strawberries but I wanted to use seasonal fruit, plus I think there is something a bit Halloween looking about a cut open fig, what do you think?

Ingredient’s 

4-5 small figs washed  and dried with kitchen towel

100gm Joshinko flour

x1 tablespoon of granulated sugar

130ml of cold water

Bean paste of choice

Potato starch

Black Sesame paste to paint in the eyes and mouth

You will need a round cutter (I used one 88mm diameter), a rolling pin, plastic wrap and microwaveable bowl.

Method:

Prepare your figs and slice off the very tip of the top where it can be a bit hard, then take a ball of bean paste, flatten it out and put a fig inside then fold the bean paste around the fig. Make sure the bean paste is quite thick. Do this to each one and put aside.

Add to a bowl the joshinko flour and sugar then mix to combine. Add the water and whisk to a smooth paste.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and microwave for 2 1/2 minutes then remove the wrap. Wet the end of a rolling pin or pestle and begin to pound the mochi until it’s nice and elastic.

Turn it out onto a damp surface and knead it until it’s nice and smooth dampen your rolling pin then roll it out and start to cut rounds.

Add some potato starch to a baking sheet or large plate.

With each round cut out place it on the potato starch then with the starched mochi facing up (so not covering the bean paste), place over the top of each bean paste covered fig. Stretch the edges down then pinch and gather with your fingers to create a ghostly skirt.

Dip the end of a chopstick into some black sesame paste and add dots for the eyes and mouth. Serve with your favourite autumn tea.

Happy Halloween 👻