Yaksik (약식)

Prep time: 20 minutes (plus 4 hours soaking)

Cook time: 40 minutes

Total time: 5 hours

Servings: 8 servings

Country of Origin

Korea

A rich, fragrant sweet rice dish made with steamed glutinous rice infused with honey, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, soy sauce, and sesame oil, studded with chestnuts, pine nuts, and jujubes.

Presentation & How It's Eaten

Molded into square slices or rounded shapes and served warm or at room temperature. Eaten with a dessert spoon or fingers as a hearty traditional confection.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sweet glutinous rice (soaked in water for 4 hours, then drained)

• 8 peeled chestnuts, halved

• 8 dried jujubes (red dates), pitted and sliced

• 2 tbsp pine nuts

Flavoring Sauce:

• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar

• 3 tbsp honey

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 tsp cinnamon powder

Step-by-Step Directions

1. First Rice Steam: Steam soaked glutinous rice in a steamer basket over high heat for 20 minutes until tender.

2. Mix Flavorings: In a large bowl, whisk dark brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, and cinnamon until sugar dissolves.

3. Combine: Add warm steamed rice, halved chestnuts, sliced jujubes, and pine nuts into flavor sauce bowl. Mix thoroughly until rice turns uniform caramel color. Let rest 15 minutes.

4. Second Steam: Return seasoned rice mixture to steamer and steam over medium heat for an additional 20 minutes until chestnuts are soft and shiny.

5. Shape: Pack cooked sweet rice into a parchment-lined dish, cool slightly, and slice into clean squares.

Cooking Tips

• Dark Brown Sugar is Key: Dark brown sugar gives Yaksik its signature deep mahogany tone and rich molasses undertones.

Nutrition Facts

(Estimated per serving)

• Calories: ~290 kcal

• Total Fat: 5g

• Saturated Fat: 0.7g

• Cholesterol: 0mg

• Sodium: ~220mg

• Total Carbohydrates: 58g

• Dietary Fiber: 2.5g

• Sugars: 20g

• Protein: 4.5g