Super Simple Electric Rice Cooker Yeakbap (Sweet Rice with Nuts and Dates)
Effortless Yeakbap Recipe Using an Electric Rice Cooker
Making traditional Yeakbap can be quite time-consuming, involving soaking glutinous rice, steaming it, mixing with seasonings, and steaming again. But with this easy electric rice cooker recipe, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious Yeakbap without all the fuss! This recipe simplifies the process, allowing you to create a delightful Korean sweet rice cake, packed with chewy glutinous rice, sweet chestnuts, and flavorful dried fruits, all in a fraction of the time. Perfect for a quick snack, a healthy dessert, or even a thoughtful homemade gift.
Main Ingredients
- 4 cups glutinous rice (approx. 600g)
- 1 cup peeled chestnuts (approx. 150g, cut into desired shapes)
- 20 dried jujubes (pitted and sliced or roughly chopped)
- 4 Tbsp dried raisins (approx. 40g, rinsed and drained)
- 2 Tbsp pine nuts or your favorite nuts (approx. 20g, for added texture and flavor)
Sweet Seasoning Mix
- 2.5 cups water (approx. 500ml)
- 1 cup brown sugar (approx. 180g, adjust to taste)
- 6 Tbsp soy sauce (approx. 90ml, for savory depth)
- 2 Tbsp honey (approx. 30ml, for gloss and smoothness)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (approx. 3g, for a warm aroma)
- 4 Tbsp sesame oil (approx. 60ml, for rich flavor and nutty aroma)
- Pinch of salt (to balance the sweetness)
- 2.5 cups water (approx. 500ml)
- 1 cup brown sugar (approx. 180g, adjust to taste)
- 6 Tbsp soy sauce (approx. 90ml, for savory depth)
- 2 Tbsp honey (approx. 30ml, for gloss and smoothness)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (approx. 3g, for a warm aroma)
- 4 Tbsp sesame oil (approx. 60ml, for rich flavor and nutty aroma)
- Pinch of salt (to balance the sweetness)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the glutinous rice thoroughly. Then, soak it in water for 1 hour. (Traditional Yeakbap requires soaking for at least 6 hours, but for this simple rice cooker version, 1 hour is sufficient!)
Step 2
Drain the soaked glutinous rice well using a sieve. Transfer the drained rice to your electric rice cooker inner pot. Pour in all the ingredients for the ‘Sweet Seasoning Mix’: water, brown sugar, soy sauce, honey, cinnamon, and salt.
Step 3
Using a spatula, mix the seasoning ingredients evenly into the glutinous rice. Next, arrange the prepared chestnuts, dried jujubes, raisins, and pine nuts (or other nuts) on top. (I used the ‘Mixed Grains’ or ‘Porridge’ setting on my rice cooker because I was concerned the raw chestnuts might not cook through completely, but the standard ‘Cook’ setting should also work well.)
Step 4
Select the ‘Cook’ or ‘Mixed Grains’ setting on your rice cooker and start cooking. Once the cooking cycle is complete, carefully transfer the hot Yeakbap to a separate bowl. Use the spatula to gently stir and mix everything together, ensuring the flavors are distributed evenly and the rice doesn’t clump. Let it cool slightly until it’s warm to the touch. Then, place the mixture into a square plastic food bag. Fold the bag to shape the Yeakbap into a neat rectangle – no rolling pin or special mold needed!
Step 5
Once the Yeakbap has cooled completely within the bag, use a knife to cut it into your desired serving sizes directly through the plastic. (Cutting it after it’s fully cooled will prevent the pieces from falling apart.)
Step 6
For an extra special touch, wrap each portion individually with plastic wrap and decorate with cute stickers. This makes your homemade Yeakbap a perfect and thoughtful gift! Enjoy your delicious creation.
