You can find butter mochi on practically every corner in Hawaii—it’s that ubiquitous because, well, it’s that good. For my version, I’ve browned the butter for a layer of toasted nutty flavor and added miso, which balances out the sweetness with its signature umami.
An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.