Aichi Zoni (Clear New Year Soup with Square Mochi)
Quick answer
- Total time
- 35 min
- Level
- Easy
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Ingredients
- 9
About this dish
Aichi zoni is a New Year soup of square mochi, chicken, and mochina, a traditional leafy vegetable from the Owari area, in a clear soy-seasoned dashi.
Read more
Although Aichi is strongly associated with dark bean miso, this zoni keeps its broth light with sake, mirin, salt, and soy sauce rather than miso. The square mochi goes directly into the simmering soup without grilling, producing a smooth surface and soft center. Mochina resembles komatsuna but is tender and mildly sweet, so it is added only after the rice cakes soften to preserve its green color. Each bowl receives two pieces of mochi, chicken, greens, clear broth, and a small topping of bonito flakes. The simple arrangement makes the texture of each ingredient easy to distinguish.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Heat
Wash 80g mochina and cut into 4cm lengths.
Trim skin and hard fat from 100g chicken thigh, cut into 2cm pieces, and keep refrigerated until cooking.
- 2Control
Combine 600ml dashi, 1 tablespoon sake, 1 tablespoon mirin, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a pot and bring to a boil.
Add the chicken, return to a boil, skim, and cook over medium heat for 4 minutes.
- 3Control
Add 8 ungrilled square mochi to the broth without overlapping.
Reduce to medium-low and simmer 4 to 6 minutes, until the edges soften and a chopstick enters the center.
- 4Season
Add the mochina and cook 2 minutes, confirming the chicken reaches at least 75°C.
Pour 2 tablespoons soy sauce around the pot, stir once, and turn off the heat just before it boils again.
- 5Finish
Place 2 mochi in each of 4 bowls, divide the chicken and mochina evenly, and ladle over the clear broth.
Top with a share of 5g bonito flakes and serve hot.
Practical Cooking Checks
The cues that matter most while cooking.
- Key technique
- Eight ungrilled square mochi and traditional Owari mochina
- Finish cue
- Place 2 mochi in each of 4 bowls, divide the chicken and mochina evenly, and ladle over the clear broth.
- Storage and reheating
- Trim skin and hard fat from 100g chicken thigh, cut into 2cm pieces, and keep refrigerated until cooking.
Cooking decision evidence
Calculated Charim data and applicable official food safety guidance.
This recipe
35min, 9 ingredients
Category median
45min, 8 ingredients
Based on 242 recipes
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