A traditional Korean rice cake, known as injeolmi or injulmi, is made from a dough of glutenous rice flour and sugar that is formed into small balls and boiled. The finished rice cakes are then rolled in powder made of ground nuts, sweet beans or other flavorings. Injeolmi are mildly sweet, slightly chewy in texture, and a good source of calories from carbohydrates.
Components
One serving of three Korean injeolmi rice cakes weighs around 48 g, notes the USDA. The majority is composed of carbohydrates, at 18 g per serving, while protein make up around 4 g and fat contribute less than 1 g. The serving also contains around 24 g of water and 1.5 g of dietary fiber. The remainder consists of other nutrients.
Calories
The USDA indicates that the rice cakes provide around 90 calories per serving, which is just under 5 percent of the recommended daily intake of calories for the typical adult diet. Of these, around 72 calories come from carbohydrates alone, protein contain 16 calories and fat delivers just 2 calories per serving.
Vitamins
Korean injeolmi rice cakes contain only modest amounts of vitamins: niacin at 0.76 mg, or near 5 percent of the recommended daily intake, or RDI, and thiamin at 0.05 mg, or 4 percent of RDI. Other vitamins in lesser amounts include vitamin B6, folate and riboflavin.
Minerals
Injeolmi also contains moderate amounts of dietary minerals, including selenium at 3.8 mcg, or nearly 7 percent of RDI, phosphorus at 45 mg, or just over 6 percent, iron at 0.55 mg, or 5.5 percent and magnesium at 20 mg, or just over 5 percent. Calcium, zinc, potassium and sodium are also present in each serving.
Health Benefits
As a snack or dessert, injeolmi are much healthier than many other choices. The cakes are very low in fat, particularly cholesterol and saturated fat which can contribute to heart disease. The amount of sugar in these Korean rice cakes is also very low.
References
- Institute of Medicine, National Academies: Dietary Reference Intakes
- USDA: Cake Made with Glutinous Rice and Dried Beans (Includes: Korean Cake 'Injolmi')
- Happy Tummy: Injeolmi (Korean Sweet Rice Cakes)
- American Heart Association: Knowing Your Fats
- Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension: Dietary Sugar and Alternative Sweeteners
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