How To Make Imo Mochi (Potato Mochi Recipe)

Potato mochi, known as imomocchi in Japanese, is a traditional local specialty from Hokkaido, made using the region’s abundant potato produce. It might sound a little strange at first, as potatoes and mochi might not seem compatible, but this dish will challenge your expectations. Once you try it, you’ll definitely want to add it to your recipe repertoire!

Let me introduce the ingredients and how to make potato mochi. The ingredients and process are very simple. It’s made with potatoes and potato starch, not with the glutinous rice typically used in regular mochi made from mochigome (glutinous rice). Unlike other dishes made with glutinous rice flour such as butter mochi, potato mochi gets its chewy texture from the potato starch, which is reminiscent of mochi.

Potato mochi is commonly seasoned with a sweet soy sauce-based sauce, similar to mitarashi dango, creating a delightful combination of sweet and salty flavors that’s truly addictive, especially with its soft and chewy texture. 

To make perfect potato mochi, here are some tips:

• Boil the potatoes thoroughly. It’s important to boil the potatoes well so they can be mashed smoothly. Finely mashed potatoes create a smoother texture, which improves the overall taste.
• Use potato starch instead of corn starch. The desired texture for this potato mochi is chewy, like traditional mochi. To achieve this, I recommend using potato starch. While you can substitute it with corn starch, I found that potato starch produces a much chewier texture.
• Eat the potato mochi while warm. Potato mochi is best enjoyed warm, not hot. When too hot, the texture is too soft and lacks chewiness. Once it cools slightly but is still warm, it regains that chewy texture and becomes perfect to enjoy.

Potato mochi is actually a very versatile dish. It can be enjoyed with fillings like cheese or wrapped in nori (seaweed). You can also make it with other types of potatoes, such as sweet potatoes or even pumpkin. In fact, there are local variations made with these ingredients.

Potato mochi is sometimes enjoyed with sake, and ready-made versions can be found in local souvenir shops. For added convenience, frozen varieties are also available.
Whether homemade or store-bought, enjoy the comforting taste of potato mochi and discover its many delicious variations!