Sesame Balls (Jian Dui)

Name: Sesame Balls (Jian Dui)
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 250g Glutinous Rice Flour, sweet rice flour; 100g Granulated Sugar; 180ml Water, boiling; 1 tbsp Neutral Oil, e.g., peanut or canola; for dough; 250g Sweetened Red Bean Paste; 150g White Sesame Seeds; 1.5 l Neutral Oil, for deep-frying

Crisp, golden Sesame Balls (Jian Dui) are chewy on the inside and filled with sweet red bean paste, then coated in toasty sesame for a delightful contrast of textures. These bite-sized treats are deep-fried until they puff up and become light and airy, perfect served warm as a snack or dessert.

Crisp, golden Sesame Balls (Jian Dui) are chewy on the inside and filled with sweet red bean paste, then coated in toasty sesame f... Show more

Traditional Chinese Recipe

Health Grade

D+ · Occasional

Rating

4.0

Time

1 hr10 min

Price

0,90 €

Calories

586 kcal

vegan

gluten free

low sodium

kid friendly

comfort food

potluck

Method

Mix the dough

In a bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour and granulated sugar. Pour in the boiling water a little at a time, stirring with chopsticks or a spoon until the mixture looks shaggy and starts to clump, then add the neutral oil and knead briefly until the dough is smooth and soft. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 15 minutes so it cools and hydrates.

Portion the filling

Divide the sweetened red bean paste into 12 equal pieces and roll each piece into a neat ball. Keep them covered while you work so they stay firm and easy to wrap.

Wrap the balls

Divide the rested dough into 12 equal pieces. Flatten one piece in your palm into a thin disk, set a bean-paste ball in the center, and pull the dough up and around it until the filling is completely sealed. Roll the seam smooth between your palms, then repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

Coat with sesame

Pour the white sesame seeds into a shallow bowl. Roll each filled ball in the seeds and press gently so the coating sticks all over.

Double-fry the balls

Add plenty of neutral oil to a heavy pot and heat it with a deep-fry thermometer to 320° F. Fry the sesame balls in small batches for 5 minutes, gently moving them so they puff evenly and do not stick together. Remove them to a plate and let them rest for 5 minutes, then raise the oil to 350° F and fry again for 2 minutes until deep golden and crisp.

Serve warm

Transfer the sesame balls to a serving plate and let them drain briefly. Serve warm, when the shells are crackly and the red bean centers are soft and sweet.