Injeolmi Korean Sweet Rice Cake Food

INJEOLMI (KOREAN SWEET RICE CAKE)

Steps:

• 1. Place sweet rice flour, salt, sugar and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Mix it well to make rice cake dough.
• 2. Cover it with Saran wrap, and cook it in a microwave oven for 3 minutes.
• 3. Mix the hot dough with a wooden spoon for about 20 seconds. Put the Saran wrap back on and cook 1 more minute in the microwave. 4. Transfer the rice cake dough into a mortar and pound it for about 1 minute (pound 50 times). You'll make bubbles and then hear the bubbles popping out while you pound, which mean the consistency of the rice cake is just right: chewy and elastic. * TIP: Put a little cold water on your hands when you touch the dough so that it won't stick to your fingers and will keep you from burning yourself.
• 4. Spread roasted soybean powder on a cutting board and place your pounded rice cake in the powder. Roll it around a bit to cover it with a light dusting of powder.
• 5. Cut into bite size pieces. Coat each piece of the rice cake with the roasted soy bean powder. Transfer to a serving plate.
• 6. Sprinkle with sugar when you serve. (if desired)
• 7. SSUK INJEOLMI -- Same directions as above, plus, add 1 Tablespoon ssukgaru (mugwort powder) and 1 Tablespoon water to the dough when you mix it. Do NOT be alarmed because MUGWORT will tint imjeolmi a green color.

SWEET RICE CAKE (BIBINGKANG MALAGKIT)

Steps:

• Soak rice in 3 1/2 cups water overnight.
• Combine rice with coconut milk, sugar, and salt in a rice cooker or heavy non-stick pot over medium low heat, stirring frequently until fully cooked. Add a little more water if needed. If you are using a rice cooker, keep cooker on warm setting until rice is cooked.
• Line a 9x13x2 inch pan with foil greased with butter.
• Transfer rice to pan and spread evenly; smoothing the top with the back of a spoon. Set aside.
• Combine flour and 4 tablespoons water in a small cup and stir to make a slurry and set aside.
• Combine brown sugar, butter, evaporated milk, and milk in a non-stick saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil.
• Stir in flour mixture and whisk until sauce has thickened and is smooth.
• Spread over rice evenly.
• Brown top under broiler for 3-5 minutes until golden brown. Do not burn.
• Let cool at room temperature until firm and cut into pieces with a plastic knife.
• I decrease the sugars by 1/2 cup and cut the salt to 1/2 tsp as I do not like very sweet desserts. Sweet rice is available in Asian markets. The short grain sweet rice is normally used. Long-grained glutinous rice is used by Thai's for sweet sticky rice. Coconut milk can be purchased canned or frozen.