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Ohagi

Ohagi (Sweet Rice Balls) adapted from various recipes found on the internet. Sakura is seen delivering Ohagi to Ino, Sasuke and Naruto in ep 83.

Ohagi are rice balls covered with sweet beans or sesame. The name, ohagi, comes from the autumn flower hagi (bush clover). Traditionally, ohagi are cooked in the autumnal equinox in Japan. The same rice balls cooked in the spring equinox are called botamochi. These are like inside out dumplings since the sweet filling is used to cover the rice.

Ingredients: (make 4 servings)

For Rice Balls:
1 cup glutious rice (mochi gome)
1/2 cup regular Japanese rice
1 1/3 cup water

For Toppings: (just buy it in a can!)
1/4 lb. azuki beans
1/4 cup sugar
pinch of salt
3 tbsps black sesame
1 tbsp sugar

How to Cook:

Wash azuki beans and put them in a pan with water and bring to a boil. Drain azuki beans and add 2 cups of water in the pan and simmer in low heat for one hour. Add sugar and a pinch of salt and simmer until the liquid is gone.

Cook both rice together in water. Mash hot steamed rice with wooden pestle.

Mix sesame seeds and sugar in a small bowl.

Moisten your hands with water and divide warm rice into 12 equal portions. Moisten a clean dish towel and squeeze dry. Place 2 ½ tablespoons bean paste on towel; pat into 4 inch circle. Place 1 rice ball in center of bean paste circle and use towel to mold bean paste around the rice ball. Roll in the sesame-sugar mixture.