Honey-Sesame Sweet Rice Punches with Chilled Pear

Tender honey-sesame sweet rice punches, boiled until buoyant, rest with chilled pear in a thin ginger-apple glaze. They echo brief comforts of Rural Joseon kimjang in Jars Buried Before Frost, when villages raced frost to bury winter in onggi jars.

Serves 4

Estimate for one serving

• 450 cal
• 8g protein
• 25g carbs
• 5.2g fat
• 3.2g fiber

Every recipe here is free to read.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sweet rice flour
• 0.5 cup hot water
• 3 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 large ripe pear
• 3 tbsp grated apple
• 0.5 tsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp pine nuts
• 2 cups water for poaching

Instructions

1. 1Mix sweet rice flour with hot water and honey until a smooth dough forms. Roll into small 1/2-inch balls.
2. 2Bring water to a gentle boil, add the rice balls, and cook for 4-5 minutes until they float. Drain and rinse under cold water.
3. 3In a small bowl combine remaining honey, grated apple, grated ginger, and sesame oil to create a thin syrup. Toss the cooled rice balls in the syrup along with toasted sesame seeds.
4. 4Slice the chilled pear into thin matchsticks. Divide the honey-sesame sweet rice punches into small bowls, top with pear matchsticks and a few pine nuts before serving cold.