Adorable Watermelon Rice Cake (SuBakSeolgi) for Kids
Crafting a Visually Stunning Watermelon Rice Cake
Learn to make SuBakSeolgi, a beautiful rice dessert shaped like a watermelon, as taught by renowned rice cake expert ‘Pungboook’ during a dessert class. Its incredibly appealing watermelon design and delightful taste make it a perfect treat for both children and adults. Elevate any occasion with this charming and delicious homemade rice cake!
Green Part (Watermelon Rind)
- 1 cup non-glutinous rice flour
- 1 Tbsp glutinous rice flour
- 1 Tbsp green soybean powder
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- Water (for adjusting consistency)
Red Part (Watermelon Flesh)
- 2.5 cups non-glutinous rice flour
- 2 Tbsp glutinous rice flour
- 1 tsp Red Yeast Rice powder (for color)
- 1 tsp strawberry powder (for color)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp chocolate chips (for seeds)
- 2.5 cups non-glutinous rice flour
- 2 Tbsp glutinous rice flour
- 1 tsp Red Yeast Rice powder (for color)
- 1 tsp strawberry powder (for color)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp chocolate chips (for seeds)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, mix the coloring ingredients with the non-glutinous rice flour separately for the green and red parts of the watermelon.
Step 2
Gradually add water to each rice flour mixture while kneading, until you achieve a moist, crumbly texture that holds its shape when squeezed but easily breaks apart. Adjust the consistency as needed.
Step 3
Sift each colored rice flour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve twice. This essential step ensures a delightfully smooth and tender texture for your rice cakes.
Step 4
Place two mousse rings (size 2 and 3) side-by-side in your steamer. Carefully press the green rice flour mixture thinly along the inner edge of the rings to form the rind. Then, pour about 1 cup of the red rice flour mixture into the center and spread it evenly using a spoon or spatula.
Step 5
Next, prepare the red rice flour mixture by adding 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips. These will represent the watermelon’s seeds.
Step 6
Gently mix the chocolate chips into the red rice flour mixture with a chopstick or small spatula. Be careful not to clump the chips together; aim for an even distribution.
Step 7
Carefully spoon the prepared red rice flour mixture, now containing the ‘seeds’, into the mousse rings within the steamer. Lightly flatten the surface.
Step 8
Add another layer by mixing 1 cup of the red rice flour mixture with 1 tablespoon of sugar and the remaining chocolate chips. Spread this mixture evenly over the previous layer. Building layers creates the realistic watermelon effect.
Step 9
Finally, top with the remaining rice flour mixture. Use a plastic card or a wide spatula to level the surface smoothly, ensuring it matches the height of the green rind layer.
Step 10
Gently loosen the mousse rings from the cake. A slight wiggle should help release them, keeping the cake’s shape intact.
Step 11
Make thin scores or shallow cuts across the top of the rice cake with a knife. This prevents the cake from cracking as it steams and also mimics the subtle texture lines on a watermelon.
Step 12
Line your steamer with a damp cheesecloth or steamer liner. Carefully place the shaped rice cake onto the prepared liner.
Step 13
Wait until the water in the steamer is boiling vigorously and producing plenty of steam. This indicates it’s time to start steaming.
Step 14
Place the rice cake into the steaming hot steamer, cover tightly, and steam over high heat for 15 minutes. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of the cake.
Step 15
After 15 minutes, carefully remove the steamed rice cake from the steamer. Be cautious of the hot steam.
Step 16
Allow the cake to cool slightly until most of the steam has dissipated. Then, gently invert the cake to release it onto a cooling rack or serving plate. Cooling slightly before inverting helps maintain the shape.
Step 17
Once cooled enough to handle, re-cut along the scored lines from Step 10 to create neat slices.
Step 18
Insert small wooden sticks or toothpicks into the slices for easy handling, especially for children. Enjoy your adorable and delicious watermelon rice cakes!
