Yaksik or Yakbap

Yaksik ou Yakbap is a rice cake.  The word Yak means «medicine», meaning that it is good for the health. Bap means cooked rice so Yaksik Yakbap is a sweet rice good for the health. It is similar to spice bread.  Don’t you think?

The original way of preparation is to cook twice in a steamer. I show you how to make Yaksik in the oven and with rice cooker.

Yaksik (Serves 8)

 

 

360g (2 cups) glutinous rice (short grain), 10 chestnuts, 10 dried red jujubes, 2 Tbsp pine nuts

 

 

Seasoning: 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, 300ml hot water

 

Preparation:

1. Soak the rice at least for two hours and drain.

 

2. Remove the jujube pit by cutting around.

 

 

3. Cut the chestnut in two or four depending on the size.

Cooking:

1. Preheat the oven 250 degree Celsius.
2. Boil the water.
3. Set everything in a rectangular glass oven dish.

4. Cover with aluminum foil and pierce some holes.

5. Bake it for 40 minutes at 250 degrees.
6. Take it out of the oven. Mix with fork to arrange nicely all the ingredients.
7. Put it back to the oven and bake another 20 minutes at 200 degree.
8. (Drizzle some honey and some pine nuts on the surface)

 Presentation

Cool the Yaksik completely then cut it in pieces like a cake.
Or
While warm, put Yaksik in a desirable mold and serve when it is cool and formed.

Tips:

1. You can use other nuts and dried fruits.
2. You can cook Yaksik in your rice cooker. When you cook in the rice cooker, put only half of the sugar. Cook as you cook the rice. Make caramel with the other half of the sugar. Put the caramel and mix well when the cooking circle is done. Leave it for 20 minutes in the cooker.
3. The left  jujube pits are also good to make some tea.