{{ ::hanabira.jpeg?400 |}} * Traces its origins to the Imperial court (Heian period!), now traditioanlly served at 裏千家's 初釜. LK explained that for some time it was even 裏千家-exclusive, with 表千家 using the 織部饅頭. * It's {{ruby|求肥|ぎゅうひ}} wrapped around a candied burdock stick (裏千家 traditionally uses 2) and some 味噌餡. Traditionally, there's also a layer of diamond-shaped, red-coloured 求肥 that peeks through the white (which is where the name comes from). However, in my version below, I find it neater to just colour the あん. * Since burdock is not so easy to find, I'm using salsify (🇩🇪 //Schwarzwurzel//), which works really well (or even better 🙊). * I heard some comments that in 裏千家 now the folded side is the front 🤯 ===My recipe=== //Essential// to assemble just before serving. The 求肥 will suck the moisture from the filling and all will end up an utter gooey mess otherwise. 🧂 Also, it probably won't do no harm at all to add a pinch of salt to the 求肥 and the candying syrup for the salsify. * Each 花弁餅 will use about 10 gr 求肥, 8 gr 中あん and a 15 gr piece of candied salsify. However, for the 求肥 you need about twice because I'm using a cookie cutter to make the shapes. You can also make little dumplings and roll out those, but it looks very tidy with the cookie cutter-method. * Make [[gyuuhi|求肥]] in white and some small amount in red. * Roll out 求肥 (it's quite elegant if you manage to make it very thin) and cut 8 cm circles. Brush the inside. * Place candied salsify slightly below the middle, with the skin side facing north. It'll turn when folding, and like this, the skin side will face towards the open side. * Place a dollop 味噌餡 (~ 8 gr) on the top side. * Fold and miau miau! ===Candied Salsify=== * Wash thoroughly. I like to leave the skin on, it tastes better and gives a nice contrast to the white 求肥. * Cut into 10 cm sticks, boil in salted / 醤油-ed water for about 15' * Cut into batons of about 4 mm. Half, third, then cut away the core. * 1:1 syrup, place salsify in it, boil, stand for at least 6 hours. * Start to candy by taking the salsify out and reducing the syrup a bit every day. ➡️ I did it just for 2 days, and it was already quite pleasant, but probably 3 is better. 🍧 You can also roll them in sugar afterwards, which is not so bad and adds a nice texture in the finished 花弁餅. But it looses elegance like this, so it depends a bit on the audience. ===My 味噌餡=== * 150 gr 白あん * 15 gr white 味噌 (use a very high quality as the taste is very present) * 15 gr beurre noisette (= heat butter to 145° C, then filter) * 1 gr 醤油 * One recipe I've seen also uses a small proportion of red 味噌 here, which makes sense I think. ➡️ Just mix and colour pink ===Experiments=== * Pear (or nashi) would make for a nice pairing. Also, can I work in some Champagne here? Maybe in the 求肥 (or at least some rice distillate)? * I tried turning the salsify into あん. This works somewhat, but it's quite some work and you end up with very little あん for a lot of salsify with a very subtle taste. * Also, to replace the burdock sticks, I made bâtons with white chocolate and 味噌 (60 gr white chocolate melted in bain marie, add 30 gr of white chocolate, add 15 gr 1:1 beurre noisette and 味噌-emulsion. Pipe, cool, cut and cover in couverture). They are absolutely fantastic, but they drag the sweet in a very French direction.