Nutritious and Sweet Yakbap Made with Sweet Rice
Nutritious and Sweet Yakbap Made with Sweet Rice
Easy Electric Rice Cooker Yakbap for Chuseok
Hello! This is Dalsun from Sejong Mom. Are you busy preparing for the holidays? This year, due to COVID-19, many holidays are simplified or families are unable to gather. We also won’t be holding ancestral rites this year due to various circumstances. While it might be physically easier, it doesn’t feel quite right emotionally. Nevertheless, to capture a bit of the holiday spirit, I made Yakbap easily at home using my electric rice cooker, filling the air with a delightful aroma. The recipe suggests 60 minutes, but it can actually take around 40 minutes to complete.
Ingredients for Sweet Yakbap- 3 cups sweet rice (glutinous rice)
- 20 chestnuts, prepared
- 15 dates, pitted
- 15g pine nuts
- 100g brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (jin-ganjang)
- 3 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon powder
- 1 pinch salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the sweet rice thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear. Place the rinsed sweet rice in a bowl and let it soak for at least 1 hour. Soaking the sweet rice makes it chewier and softer when cooked.
Step 2
Gently wash the dates in a bowl of water with a little vinegar to remove any dust. Remove the stems and pits from the dates, then slice them thinly into strips. Peel the chestnuts and cut them into quarters or bite-sized pieces as desired.
Step 3
Now, let’s prepare the sauce that will give the Yakbap its wonderful flavor. Add the soaked sweet rice to your pressure cooker (or the inner pot of your electric rice cooker). Then, add the brown sugar, sesame oil, cinnamon powder, and salt. Gently mix these ingredients with your hands, massaging the sweet rice. The key is to ensure each grain is evenly coated with the seasoning.
Step 4
On top of the seasoned sweet rice, evenly distribute the prepared chestnuts, sliced dates, and fragrant pine nuts. Now it’s time to add water. Fill the pot with water up to the ‘4th water level mark’ designated for rice. Adding too much or too little water can affect the texture, so be sure to follow the markings. After adding the water, gently mix again to distribute the ingredients evenly.
Step 5
Securely close the rice cooker lid in the ‘high-pressure mode’. Then, press the ‘High-Pressure Steam’ or ‘High-Pressure Cook’ button to start the cooking process. The button name might vary depending on your rice cooker model, so refer to your appliance’s manual. Cooking under high pressure makes the sweet rice exceptionally chewy and delicious.
Step 6
While the rice is cooking, let’s make a beautiful garnish for the Yakbap! We’ll use the dates we julienned earlier. Carefully slice the dates thinly using a peeler or knife, then gently press them with a rolling pin to flatten them slightly. Roll these flattened date strips up to create beautiful ‘date flowers.’ These handmade garnishes will elevate the presentation of your Yakbap.
Step 7
When the cooking cycle is complete and the timer signals, carefully open the rice cooker lid. Be cautious of the hot steam! Gently transfer the cooked Yakbap, while still steaming hot, into a suitable-sized container. Once transferred, use a spatula to firmly press down the surface of the Yakbap, shaping it evenly. Allow it to cool down slightly.
Step 8
Once the Yakbap has cooled to a warm temperature, artfully arrange the date flowers you prepared earlier on top. And there you have it! A sweet and delicious Yakbap, perfect for the Chuseok holiday and a healthy treat for your family, is now complete! Enjoy this homemade Yakbap with your loved ones.
