Friday 3 October 2014

Wagashi and Mashed Potato Duck

Thank you very much to all those of you who emailed to ask about my upcoming book. Sorry for not talking about the book earlier, I started working on it in June, as I'm working on it slowly, I was hoping to wait until I submit the manuscript before talking about it online. However, due to the interviews, the news came out earlier. Just to share a bit about it for now. The book is a bento cookbook, with lots of bentos and food recipes, and all bentos come with step-by-step photos. It is estimated to be out in US in fall next year, I'll update more in due course. :)

I started making Halloween bentos this week, but I'll only be updating them next week. Meanwhile, if you need ideas for Halloween bentos, you can click HERE to check out those I made previously, I've plenty of old Halloween bentos.

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The duck sitting on top of the mini pancakes stack is a type of wagashi ( traditional Japanese sweets), I made it using white bean paste and shiratama flour.

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I won't be sharing the recipe for this, as you can't get white bean paste here. I've not seen it being sold here, if you know where to get it in Singapore, please let me know.

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However, you can easily create these ducks using mashed potatoes, and I'll be sharing how to make them in this post.

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The mashed potatoes ducks are sitting on ham and egg mayo sandwiches, and there's also prawn salad packed in the bento.
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Please continue on for the detailed tutorial on how to make these.

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Finally, the mashed potato tutorial I promised. Sorry for taking so long to get it done. First, peel potato, chop into small pieces and steam for around 10 to 15 minutes or till soft.

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Mash them up with a fork or potato masher. I usually add a pinch of salt and half a teaspoon of butter so that it taste better. Please do not add too much butter, and please do not add milk.

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You can colour the mixture using gel colours. To make the duck, I divided the mashed potato and coloured them yellow and orange.

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To make the duck, roll yellow mashed potato into 2 balls, one slightly bigger than the other, using the palms of your hands.

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Take the bigger ball, flatten the front a little and mould out the duck's tail at the back.

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Place the small ball on top.

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Take a bit of orange mashed potato, mould out the duck's bill and mould it onto the duck.

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Punch out a circle from nori, using a hole puncher. You can stop at this step.

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Or you can get some yellow mashed potato and mould on the duck's wings.

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I chose this duck to demonstrate the step-by-step as it's very easy to make, but you can use this same method to mould into other things you fancy. You can also use sweet potatoes and purple potatoes. You can even fill it in a pipping bag with a pipping tip and use it to pipe on designs for sushi cake. :)

26 comments:

  1. These are easy and adorable, plus you're right that the method you show can be used to make all sorts of things! Thank you for the lovely tutorial.

    -Stephanie

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    Replies
    1. Such a great Idea you are so talented I wish I could be half.

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  2. Hi, I love your blog and want to get your posts by email. Could you add a "subscribe by email" widget to your blog, pretty please? :)

    http://blogger-hints-and-tips.blogspot.ca/2011/03/follow-by-email-gadget-easy-way-to-add.html

    Please? Thanks! :D

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    Replies
    1. It's done. Actually I removed it coz someone emailed to say it's not working and I've no idea how to fix. Hope it works for you,

      Delete
    2. Thank you! :D

      If it doesn't work, I'll do some research and get back to you. So far it seems to be working.

      Delete
    3. It definitely works! I use gmail and it works perfectly, both on my phone and my laptop. :)

      Delete
    4. Great! Tks for telling me. :)

      Delete
  3. Congratulations on your book!! Ming,I’m soooo happy and very proud of you!
    Omg!! This is tooo cute...i love both version,can't bear to eat..and I'm also very curious to know what is the Wagashi tastes like.^^

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  4. Congratulations on the book Ming, and please keep us updated. I am extremely happy for you and I can't wait to get a copy!:)
    The mashed potato duck is adorable!

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  5. Can't wait for your book to be out! These ducks are adorable!

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  6. Super cute ducky. Congrats on your book!

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  7. Can i know where u get the colourful pasta and nori puncher?
    Regards, vodka

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    Replies
    1. Nori puncher was from Daiso. Pasta bought from Rakuten.

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    2. Thanks... guess they dont sell anymore

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    3. Daiso should still have. The pasta is still available too, just that need to get on Japan rakuten instead and you need an agent to send over.

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    4. Thank you for ur advice

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  8. Thank you for the mashed potato tutorial! I love it :)!

    Do you remember where you got your cute bamboo basket?

    -Hola

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I bought it from one of the shops in kitchen street in Tokyo. However, I've seen it on rakuten Japan site, you might want to search there.

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    2. Is it expensive? I am seeing USD60 and above :(

      -Hola

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    3. No, I remember this one was not expensive, though I can't remember exactly how much. I did see some other bamboo ones which are very ex.

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  9. I love your tutorial...v easy to understand n to follow. v gung ho to try it out this wkend. thanks....hope to see more of such tutorials :) - Choy Funn

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  10. Hi Miss Ming!
    May I know how do I get the orange mashed potato beak? And Aaso, the puncher(?)?
    Through colouring or sweet potato..?
    Thank you! Sorry, I'm new in this..
    - Chop

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