Selfmade Japanese Rice Crackers : Okaki

When you love conventional Japanese snacks then you definitely’ll love Okaki! These crunchy little rice crackers aren’t solely scrumptious but additionally surprisingly straightforward to make within the consolation of your individual kitchen. They’re solely constructed from two elements: rice and salt, in order that they’re not full of strange flavours and components and make a more healthy crunchy snack various to potato chips. Okaki is usually savory however could be candy too and flavoured nevertheless you want!

What’s Okaki Rice Crackers

Okaki is a kind of Japanese rice cracker snack with a crunchy crispy texture and scrumptious flavour. There are primarily three varieties of rice crackers we eat in Japan: Senbei, Okaki, and Arare. The distinction between the three is the dimensions and elements. Senbei is constructed from “uruchimai (non-glutinous rice) and it’s historically a flat spherical disk form. Okaki and Arare are constructed from glutinous rice however the measurement differs. Okaki is larger and chunky and Arare is small items. The making technique of Okaki and Arare is identical. They each are basically minimize, dried, deep-fried mochi rice muffins.

The Advantages of Selfmade Rice Crackers

Rice crackers are a extremely popular Japanese snack in order that they’re available not solely in Japan however different international locations too. Whereas they’re straightforward to search out these days at Japanese supermarkets and even native tremendous markets, making your individual rice crackers at house affords quite a few advantages.

All-Pure Substances

When crafting your individual rice crackers, you will have full management over the elements used. Not like store-bought variations that will include components or unhealthy preservatives, home made rice crackers permit you to use contemporary and pure elements. This implies no synthetic flavors or dangerous chemical compounds.

Customization Choices

One of many best benefits of constructing home made rice crackers is the power to customise them based on your preferences and dietary wants. You possibly can experiment with numerous seasonings like black sesame seeds, sea salt flakes, chili powder, and even incorporate herbs like rosemary or thyme for added taste complexity. Moreover, you may select between brown rice or different entire grains for elevated dietary worth.

Decrease Sodium Content material

Processed snacks normally include extreme quantities of sodium as a preservative that may negatively affect well being if consumed in extra over time. By making your individual rice crackers at house, you will have full management over the quantity of salt used throughout baking – permitting you to take pleasure in a low-sodium various with out sacrificing style.

Allergy-Free/Gluten-Free Possibility

Making this snack at house means you may guarantee there’s nothing inside that may set off reactions for allergy symptoms or gluten intolerances. For anybody with gluten sensitivities or celiac illness, home made rice crackers are an ideal gluten-free snack (relying on seasonings). Additionally they don’t include wheat, nuts, dairy, or different animal merchandise as a result of the bottom is simply salt and rice and the flavourings are all as much as you.  

Customizable Flavors

One other profit of constructing rice crackers at house is with the ability to experiment with numerous flavors and spices based on your style preferences. Conventional okaki are seasoned with simply salt or soy sauce however you may select no matter flavourings you want. You possibly can add herbs like rosemary or thyme for an fragrant twist or incorporate spices corresponding to paprika or garlic powder for a savory kick.  

Substances

With simply two base elements, you’ll have home made okaki very quickly. Right here’s what you’ll have to make home made rice crackers:

Mochi rice muffins 

Okaki and arare are constructed from sliced or minimize mochi rice muffins. You should purchase prepared made mochi individually packeted from Japanese or Asian grocery shops. Japanese folks typically make this after new years, as a result of they’ve loads of leftover rice muffins from the brand new years feast.

Oil 

Select a impartial oil corresponding to vegetable oil or grapeseed oil to keep away from overpowering the pure flavors of the rice cake.

Seasonings

Be at liberty to experiment with completely different seasonings relying in your preferences and dietary restrictions. My advice of Japanese flavour choices are: sea salt, nori (seaweed) flakes, soy sauce, or kinako soybean flour. Different choices embody: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili flakes, or dried herbs like rosemary or thyme.

The way to make Japanese rice crackers at house?

The mochi rice muffins are minimize into small items and solar dried for every week. After it’s utterly dry, you will note small cracks on the mochi floor, you deep fry it at a low temperature. Add any flavour you want and you’ll have scrumptious freshly made Japanese rice crackers.

2 suggestions for making crispy and crunchy Japanese rice crackers

1. Lower mochi rice cake about 3mm skinny and unfold out on a rack to solar dry for at the very least a couple of days or until lots of small cracks seem on the mochi surfaces. Drying the mochi utterly will minimise any splash from the cooking oil when it’s being fried. Additionally it ensures to make crispy and crunchy Japanese rice crackers.
2. Deep fry the minimize and solar dried mochi rice muffins slowly at a low temperature (about 160 Diploma Celsius) and consistently flip the mochi rice muffins as a way to brown evenly.

Flavours of Japanese Rice Crackers

I personally like a delicate sea salt flavour so I simply sprinkle some salt instantly when the crackers are cooked and the oil has drained. However there are lots of completely different flavours to strive. You possibly can both flavour the mochi rice muffins earlier than cooking or season after the rice cracker is cooked. You possibly can flavour mochi itself with Yomogi and black beans (like within the images) earlier than cooking. After frying the rice muffins you may season with soy sauce, nori seaweed, curry powder, or for a touch of sweetness you may sprinkle sugar or some matcha (inexperienced tea) powder.

More healthy Possibility

Deep fried snacks aren’t actually good to your well being. And since Japanese rice crackers are addictive and excessive in carbs, a more healthy model is at all times nice. The excellent news is which you can bake as an alternative of frying the okaki! The method of drying mochi rice muffins stays the identical. The subsequent step is to bake them in an oven as an alternative of deep frying. Pre warmth the oven to 180 levels celsius. Unfold out the minimize and solar dried mochi rice muffins on an oven tray lined with parchment sheet. Bake it for about 20 to 25 minutes or until brown.

Storage

It’s greatest to eat the rice crackers after they’re freshly made for optimum flavour and crunch. Nonetheless you may retailer them in an hermetic container and maintain in a dry place to lengthen the shelf life.

Right here is my recipe for Okaki! When you appreciated it, please charge it and go away a remark beneath. Additionally, don’t overlook to observe me on Youtube, Pinterest, Fb , Twitter and Instagram to maintain updated with all the newest happenings on Chopstick Chronicles. Don’t overlook to make use of the hashtag #ChopstickChronicles so I can see your great creations!