Until today, I have shared only sweet-tasting recipes with cherry blossoms. To balance out the sweetness, I have a delicious savory recipe to share using salt-pickled cherry blossoms. Cherry Blossom Rice Ball (桜のおにぎり) is a wonderful way to incorporate this Japanese seasonal ingredient into a picnic snack or part of a Japanese-themed meal. They also make a memorable gift to your loved ones that you can surprise them with this spring to celebrate the return of warm weather and fresh, spring flowers.
Cherry Blossom for Culinary Use
Japanese cuisine focuses heavily on seasonality. You will find many dishes that incorporate seasonal ingredients. Eating in season is also a thoughtful and profound way to be connected to nature. When springtime comes, we not only admire the flowers but also preserve them to cherish the taste of the season. The custom of using cherry blossoms for culinary has been around for many years in Japan. We serve cherry blossom tea at weddings and we make cherry blossom rice balls for hanami viewing. Since cherry blossoms stay in bloom for just two weeks, they are a gem to take delight in. And for me, cooking with cherry blossoms brings many happy memories of my childhood back in Japan.
A Springtime Match – Cherry Blossoms Rice Balls
Salt-pickled cherry blossoms not only work well with sweets but also with savory dishes, like rice balls! I usually buy salt-pickled cherry blossoms for baking, but I always end up with a few leftover blossoms. Since these pretty flowers should not go to waste, I use them to make these delicious rice balls (onigiri). They are quick and easy to make, and always a family favorite. Slightly salty with a delicate floral fragrance, these cherry blossom rice balls are an absolute treat and they capture the essence of spring so beautifully. You want to pack them in a bento box and enjoy them under the full-blossomed cherry trees!
What Are Salt-Pickled Cherry Blossoms and Where to Get Them?
These edible salt-pickled cherry blossoms are made with Yaezakura (八重桜), blossoms of more than five petals. They are carefully handpicked while the buds are still tender and young, then washed, drained, and dried before they are sprinkled with salt. On the next day, the brine is squeezed out and the flowers are pickled in ume plum vinegar (梅酢) and let sit for about 3 days. Finally, they are dried in a single layer for another 3 days in the shade or until they are completely dried. To preserve, the blossoms are packed in a jar with salt. This way, they can be kept for one year.
What is Mochi Mugi (Barley)?
When we were in Okinawa last Christmas, I had a chance to try a type of rice ball with mochi mugi. And I LOOOOVED them. So I brought this package of Mochi Mugi back to the States. Mochi mugi (もち麦) is a type of barley. It contains 4 times the amount of fiber found in brown rice, which is approximately 25 times that of white rice. Mochi mugi is also rich in vitamin B1, phosphorus, and vitamin B3, and has a protein content comparable to quinoa! Only a small amount of mochi mugi was added to the regular white rice in this recipe. Yet, when you bite into the rice ball, you immediately know that it adds a nice bouncy texture to the onigiri. I love adding into rice ball recipes now, so I made room in my suitcase to bring some back from Japan (that was before I found out how easy it was to purchase here in the US!).
Other Recipes Using Salt Pickled Cherry Blossoms
Here are other recipe ideas for you to try using salt-pickled cherry blossoms that you can bring along for your picnic basket or bento. Enjoy spring and I hope you get to take time off to go for a hanami adventure with your loved ones.
Cherry Blossom Madeleines Cherry Blossom Milk Pudding Cherry Blossom Cookies
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