Matcha mochi ice cream

Method

• step 1

  To make the ice-cream, put all of the ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth. Chill the mixture for at least 1 hr or overnight. Remove from the fridge, stir and pour into an ice cream maker and churn for 45 mins, or until thick and frozen. Alternatively, pour into a freezable container and freeze for 90 mins. Remove from the freezer and whisk the mixture, freeze for a further 45 mins, then whisk the mixture again. Put it back into the freezer for another 30 mins. Repeat this 2-3 times more, freezing for 30 mins each time. Then, freeze for a final 2-3 hrs.

• step 2

  Remove the ice cream from the freezer to soften slightly, then use a 5cm-sized ice cream scoop to make 8 balls. Scoop them onto a tray lined with baking parchment, then freeze for at least 30 mins or overnight. If they are tricky to scoop, leave the ice cream for a few minutes to soften or use your hands to shape the balls.

• step 3

  Dust a 30 x 20cm baking tray with half the cornflour. Pour 200ml water into a 1-litre sized saucepan along with the matcha powder. Mix well, then add the rice flour and caster sugar and set over a medium heat. Use a whisk to break up any lumps, then switch to a spatula when it begins to thicken after 2-3 mins. Stir quickly for another 30 seconds until it begins to come together like a sticky ball of dough.

• step 4

  Transfer the dough to the prepared baking tray and carefully flatten out with the spatula. Once cool enough to touch, dust over the remaining cornflour and use your hands to flatten out to about the size of the tray. Leave it to cool down, cover and keep in the fridge for 30 mins. Will keep covered and chilled for up to three days.

• step 5

  Roll out the mochi dough on a dry chopping board dusted with a little extra cornflour until 5mm thick. Cut out 10cm circles using a cookie cutter or cup. Place a scoop of ice cream on top of a circle of dough, then carefully fold the dough around the ice cream, pinching at the top to seal, then turn over so that the top becomes the bottom. (This will be easier if you dust your hands with cornflour.) Repeat until all the ice cream and dough is used, then freezer for at least 2 hrs before serving. Will keep frozen for up to one month. Take the mochi out of the freezer and leave at room temperature for around 3-5 mins to soften, before serving.