The most recognizable rice cake in the West is Japanese mochi, but there is a wide and wonderful world of Asian rice cakes, all possessing symbolic meaning in the context of Lunar New Year.

Pieces of mochi are also used as a topping in various soups, such as noodle-based chikara udon or the adzuki bean stew oshiruko. Thanks to the versatility of mochi dough, some home cooks even ...