Recipe: Korean Pumpkin Porridge with Rice Dumplings (Hobakjuk)
Across Asia, dumplings symbolize good luck for the Lunar New Year. In preparation for this year’s celebration, I decided to learn how to make one of my favorite dumpling dishes, the Korean hobakjuk or pumpkin porridge with sweet rice dumplings. If you aren’t familiar with the Asian tradition of sweet soups and porridges, it might help to think of this as a pudding. In addition to the velvety pumpkin, it has delightful mochi-like rice balls and makes a delicious winter breakfast or subtly sweet dessert.
You can make this with kabocha, butternut squash, or most any winter gourd as long as it’s naturally sweet. After boiling or steaming the squash, you simmer it with sweet rice, which thickens the porridge and gives it a smooth, nicely viscous texture. The most traditional recipes call for soaking and simmering glutinous rice grains to make the juk or porridge. Some may scoff at my shortcut, but rather than starting with whole rice I simply use sweet rice flour. Mochiko is one brand that’s widely available at Asian markets and other well-stocked supermarkets.
The same sweet rice flour is used for the tteok or dumplings, which couldn’t be easier to make. (In fact, learning how to make these may be dangerous! Soon I’ll be putting dumplings in everything…) The chewiness of the dumplings is a wonderful complement to the pudding. For a really sumptuous hobakjuk, you can also add cooked sweet red beans to your bowl, as well as garnishes like pine nuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, chestnuts, or dried jujubes.
Korean Pumpkin Porridge with Rice Dumplings (Hobakjuk)
Serves4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the porridge:
- 1
(2-pound) pumpkin, kabocha, or butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 cups
water
- 1/4 cup
sweet rice flour
- 1/4 cup
brown sugar (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon
salt
- 1/2 cup
cooked red beans (optional)
- 2 tablespoons
pine nuts (optional)
- 1 teaspoon
black sesame seeds (optional)
For the sweet rice dumplings:
- 1/2 cup
sweet rice flour
- 3 to 5 tablespoons
hot water
Instructions
To prepare the porridge, fill a saucepan with an inch or two of water. Place a steamer basket or colander in the saucepan, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Place the pumpkin in the basket, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Make sure the water doesn't boil away; if necessary, add more water during steaming. Cook the pumpkin until very tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 20 minutes.
While the pumpkin steams, prepare the rice balls. In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup sweet rice flour and 3 tablespoons of hot water. Using your hands, knead it to form a dough. The dough should be soft and pliable like play-dough — not too dry and not too sticky. If necessary, add more water, a little at a time, to reach the right consistency.
Divide the dough into 12 pieces and roll into balls. Keep the balls covered with a damp towel to prevent them from drying out. Set aside.
Transfer the pumpkin to a blender along with 4 cups water, 1/4 cup sweet rice flour, and the brown sugar and salt. Blend until smooth. Pour into a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
While the porridge simmers, cook the rice balls. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a rolling boil. Add the rice balls and cook until they float, about 2 minutes. Use a small strainer or slotted spoon to remove the cooked dumplings.
If using red beans, add a spoonful of beans to the bottom of each individual bowl. Ladle the porridge into the bowls. Add three rice dumplings to each bowl. Garnish with pine nuts and sesame seeds, if using. Serve immediately.