Hobak juk
Pumpkin porridge
Hobak juk (호박죽): sweet pumpkin porridge with rice-cake balls
Hobak juk is the golden pumpkin porridge sold in thermos-sized portions at Seoul's Gwangjang market and cooked in temple kitchens through the cold months, when stored pumpkins are at their sweetest. Steamed pumpkin is blended smooth, thickened with glutinous rice flour and dotted with chewy little rice-cake balls, giving a velvety, naturally sweet bowl that is soothing for convalescents and children alike. The rice balls are soft and sticky, so cut them small for young children to avoid choking. The common mistake is adding the rice-flour slurry in one go to boiling porridge, which makes lumps. The optional pine-nut topping is a tree-nut allergen; leave it off for anyone with a nut allergy. Chef's tip: roast or steam the pumpkin rather than boiling it in water; less water means a deeper colour and sweeter taste.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ lb kabocha squash or pumpkinpeeled, seeded and cut into chunks (about 700 g prepared)
- 3 ¼ cups water
- 2 ⅛ oz glutinous rice flourfor thickening
- 3 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp pine nuts (optional)
For the rice-cake balls
- 3 ½ oz glutinous rice flour
- ¼ cup hot water
- 1 pinch salt
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What you'll need
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Put 2 ¼ lb kabocha squash or pumpkin and 3 ¼ cups water in a pot, cover and simmer over a medium heat until the pumpkin collapses when pressed with a spoon.
15 minStep 2: Meanwhile, mix 3 ½ oz glutinous rice flour and 1 pinch salt, add ¼ cup hot water a little at a time and knead into a smooth dough like play dough. Roll into marble-sized balls.
Step 3: Blend the pumpkin with its cooking water until completely smooth and return it to the pot over a medium heat.
Step 4: Whisk 2 ⅛ oz glutinous rice flour with 120 ml cold water. Pour it in slowly while stirring constantly, then cook, stirring, until the porridge coats a spoon thickly.
8 minStep 5: Drop in the rice balls and simmer, stirring so they don't stick, until they float and turn glossy, about 4 minutes.
4 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 60 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does hobak juk take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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