Like its formal cuisine, Japanese dessert is always delicate and cute. A small serving with a hint of sweetness could definitely complete a meal without adding too much to your waist.The magic of Japanese dessert has spread around the globe in recent decades.
As people are getting more and more concerned about their health and weight, they came to realize that Japanese dessert is much healthier than the traditional dessert they have had in their whole lives, like oily donuts and that one Christmas pudding that would make you gain at least two pounds. So, let’s look at this Japanese dessert, the purin pudding, that can give you the same sense of satisfaction of having dessert while being less harmful to your body.
Table of Contents
What is Japanese Pudding – Purin(プリン)
Purin, also known as crème caramel or flan, is actually a kind of custard dessert that is popular around the world. Generally, it is made of custard with a thin layer of caramel sauce on top. However, due to its popularity, people in different countries customise it to suit the taste of their people.
For example, in Japan, purin is generally less sweet because the Japanese tend to like food of a neutral flavour. As a result, the Japanese have been pretty creative when it comes to variations of Japanese pudding. Japanese dessert chef would add in various kinds of Japanese ingredients into the pudding to create more flavours for this little Japanese pudding.
NO.1 Japanese Custard Pudding Recipe(カスタードプリン)
This is the original flavour of the Japanese custard pudding. It is made of mainly custard and caramel, which is the same as everywhere else in the world, but with a Japanese style.
Food Material
butter, water, 2 cups milk, 6 table spoon sugar, 1 tablespoon warm water, 4 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Tools
Pudding cups(mold), bowl
Steps
- STEP 1: Put butter in every pudding cups.
- STEP 2: Heat 2 tablespoon water and 6 tablespoon sugar in a saucepan. Simmer until the sugar turned into brown colour, then add 1 tablespoon warm water to make the sauce less thick.
- STEP 3: Pour the mixture into the pudding mold.
- STEP 4: Hear 2 cups milk to around 140F. When the milk is warm enough, you can dissolve the sugar sauce into the milk and add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- STEP 5: Beat 4 large eggs in a bowl. Add the warm milk mixture to the beaten eggs. Filter the egg mixture using a trainer and take away any bubbles seen on the surface of the egg mixture.
- STEP 6: Pour the mixture into the mold with the pudding sauce, then place them into a steamer. Steam for 15 to 20 minutes at low heat.
- STEP 7: Let the pudding cool in room temperature.
- STEP 8: Garnish and serve.
NO.2 Japanese Matcha Pudding Recipe(抹茶プリン)
Japanese Matcha is no doubt one of the favorites of the Japanese. With its neutral taste, it can be added to basically every Japanese dessert, including the pudding we are discussing this time. Here is how you can make a Japanese matcha pudding.
Food Material
1 ½ tablespoon Japanese matcha powder, 5g gelatine powder/ 2 gelatine sheets, 2 tablespoon hot water, 1¼ cup whole milk, 3 tablespoon red bean paste, whipped cream, ¼ cup granulated sugar
Tools
Bamboo tea whisk, cup
Steps
- STEP 1: Sift 1 ½ tablespoon Japanese matcha powder to a bowl or use a bamboo tea whisk to whisk the powder.
- STEP 2: Mix 5g gelatine powder or 2 gelatine sheets with 2 tablespoon hot water. Mix well.
- STEP 3: Heat ½ cup water and place the gelatine mixture over the pan. The steam from the boiling water can help to dissolve the gelatine. Heat until all the gelatine powder or sheet are dissolved.
- STEP 4: Heat 1¼ cup whole milk until boil, then add ¼ cup granulated sugar to it. Whisk well until dissolved.
- STEP 5: Pour the milk mixture to 1½ tablespoon Japanese matcha powder and whisk well. Make sure no dry lumps of Japanese matcha powder is left.
- STEP 6: Mix the milk mixture and the Japanese matcha tea mixture.
- STEP 7: Add the dissolved gelatine to the Japanese matcha tea mixture and whisk well.
- STEP 8: Combine 3 tablespoon red bean paste with the Japanese matcha tea mixture and mix well. Put the Japanese matcha tea mixture to a cup, followed by the red bean paste. Chill for around 2 hours or until the pudding is solidified.
- STEP 9: Garnish with whipped cream or Japanese matcha powder.
No worries if you don’t want to make it from scratch, you can purchase the Matcha Green Tea Pudding Mix here.
NO.3 Japanese Cherry Blossom Pudding Recipe(桜プリン)
Cherry blossom is one of the prettiest images of Japan. The Japanese tend to include that some cherry blossom elements into their food, including the Japanese pudding. Not only does it tastes good, it also looks very pretty and Instagram-mable.
Food Material
5g gelatin powder, 1 gelatin sheet, some hot water, 160g milk, 70g granulated sugar, 2 teaspoon sugar, ½ cup plain yogurt, ¾ cup heavy cream, some ice water, 1-2 drop red food coloring, dried Japanese cherry blossom flowers
Tools
Large bowl, small saucepan
Steps
- STEP 1: Dissolve 5g of gelatin powder in 3 tablespoon of hot water until completely dissolved.
- STEP 2: Heat 160g milk and 70g granulated sugar in a small saucepan using medium heat until the sugar dissolved completely. Add the gelatin mixture and mix well.
- STEP 3: Mix ½ cup plain yogurt and ¾ cup heavy cream well.
- STEP 4: Add the milk mixture to the yogurt mixture. Keep stirring to mix when you add the milk. Then pour the mixture through a sieve to remove any lumps.
- STEP 5: Fill half of a large bowl with ice water and give the mixture an ice bath until the mixture has a thick and syrupy texture.
- STEP 6: Pour into pudding cups when the mixture is thick enough. Chill in the fridge for around 30 – 60 minutes.
- STEP 7: Start making the cherry blossom layer. Dissolve 1 gelatin sheet with 1 ½ tablespoon hot water until dissolved completely.
- STEP 8: Boil ½ cup water with 2 teaspoon sugar over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
- STEP 9: Add the gelatin mixture to the sugar mixture and 1-2 drop red food coloring.
- STEP 10: Cool the mixture with an ice bath to make its texture thick and syrupy.
- STEP 11: Pour the cherry blossom mixture over the pudding mixture.
- STEP 12: Chill until the top layer is solid. Garnish the pudding with some dried Japanese cherry blossom flowers.
NO.4 Japanese Mango Pudding Recipe(マンゴープリン)
As a tropical fruit, mango is often paired up with puddings to give the pudding a more refreshed taste. Here is how it can be mixed with the traditional Japanese pudding.(≡^∇^≡)
Food Material
Some Water, 30g sugar, 4g gelatin powder, 200g mango puree, 50ml heavy cream, 2 teaspoon of lemon juice, 2 fresh mangoes
Tools
5 small pudding cups
Steps
- STEP 1: Heat 150mL water with 30g sugar until the sugar dissolves completely.
- STEP 2: Add 4g gelatin powder to the boiling water until completely dissolved.
- STEP 3: Mix the gelatin with 200g mango puree well.
- STEP 4: Combine the mixture with 50mL heavy cream and mix well.
- STEP 5: Add around 2 teaspoon of lemon juice to taste if you chose a sweet type of mango.
- STEP 6: Pour the mixture into 5 small pudding cups. Chill for at least 2 hours until the pudding is solid.
- STEP 7: Slice 1 to 2 fresh mangoes and garnish the pudding as you like.
Well, if you don’t want to make it from scratch, why not try this Mango Pudding Oriental Dessert Mix.
NO.5 Japanese Chocolate Pudding Recipe(チョコレートプリン)
Chocolate is certainly one of the best dessert you can dream of. Chocolate pudding is not a new thing to us, but let us try the Japanese style chocolate pudding and see how are they different.(*＾v＾*)
Food Material
35g sugar, 35g cornstarch, 400ml whole milk, 35g semi-sweet chocolate, a pinch of salt, a dash of vanilla paste, strawberries, mint leaves
Tool
6 pudding cups, plastic wrap
Steps
- STEP 1: Mix 35g sugar and 35g cornstarch together and combine well.
- STEP 2: Add 400mL whole milk slowly to the mixture.
- STEP 3: Pour the milk mixture into the sieve to remove any lumps.
- STEP 4: Heat the mixture with medium heat. Remember to keep stirring until the mixture has a thick texture.
- STEP 5: Add 35g semi-sweet chocolate, a pinch of salt and a dash of vanilla paste. Mix everything well.
- STEP 6: Pour the mixture evenly into 6 pudding cup. Wrap the pudding cup with plastic wrap to avoid the surface from condensing.
- STEP 7: Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Garnish the pudding with strawberries and mint leaves.
No worries if you don’t want to make it from scratch, you can purchase Fresh Chocolate Pudding Snack.
NO.6 Japanese Hokkaido Milk Pudding Recipe(北海道ミルクプリン)
Hokkaido is known for its 3.6 milk, so naturally, Japanese chefs tried to include that into the beloved Japanese pudding. Using Hokkaido milk, the Japanese pudding would have a smoother texture as well as a stronger taste of milk.
Food Material
2.5g gelatin powder (3 gelatin sheets ), 500ml Hokkaido 3.6 milk, 3 tablespoon sugar, 50ml cream
Tool
Some pudding cups, small saucepan
Steps
- STEP 1: Heat 2.5g gelatin powder or 3 gelatin sheets in warm water until completely dissolved.
- STEP 2: Heat 500mL Hokkaido 3.6 milk, 3 tablespoon sugar and 50mL cream together in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir the mixture from time to time until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- STEP 3: Add the gelatin mixture to the milk mixture and stir well.
- STEP 4: Pour the milk mixture to the pudding cups.
- STEP 5: Chill in the fridge for more than 6 hours.
Japanese pudding is one of the most loved dessert among Japanese. Due to its cool taste, pudding can be a nice and refreshing treat in a hot summer day.
Even in winter, Japanese would enjoy a small cup of pudding with a cup of hot tea in a cozy afternoon.
There are a lot of variations of Japanese pudding by adding in different Japanese food and ingredients. So, when you are trying to make your own Japanese pudding at home, do be creative and imaginative and create your very own style of pudding!
You might also like:
→Mochi The Best Japanese Dessert We All Love!
→5 Vegan Matcha Recipes With Too “Matcha” Benefits!
→Top 10 Matcha Tea Powder Home Made Recipes
→【Best 5 Matcha Baking Recipes】Healthy and Diet Recipes that make your guest drooling!
