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Fried sesame balls are made from fried dough covered with sesame seeds and filled with a sweet red bean or lotus seed paste. They’re best when served piping hot, a wonderful combination of crunchy, chewy, sticky and sweet.
Fried sesame balls are particularly popular at Chinese New Year, when their round shape and golden color represent luck and good fortune. The balls puff up as they cook, a happy metaphor for swelling prosperity in the year ahead.
Making fried sesame balls is similar to making a traditional deep fried doughnut. Maintain your oil temperature and avoid using dough that’s too moist to keep your sesame balls from collapsing immediately after they come out of the fryer.
Can you share any expert tips from your experience making fried sesame balls? Want to ask a question before you try making it yourself? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
Fried Sesame Balls Recipe
Makes: 12 | Prep Time: 30 Minutes | Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Adapted From: Chinese Recipes
Ingredients
3 cups rice flour
1 cup sweet red bean paste
1 1/3 cup boiling water
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup untoasted sesame seeds
6 cups peanut oil
Directions
1. In a small bowl, dissolve the brown sugar into 1 cup of the boiling water. Place the rice flour in a large bowl, making a well in the center and adding the sugar and water mixture. Stir until dough turns sticky and caramel colored. You may add the remaining 1/3 cup of water if needed.
2. Take a piece of dough about 2 inches wide and make a deep indent in the middle to form a small cup. Take one teaspoon of red bean paste and roll into a ball, placing it into the the dough and folding dough over top to seal and roll into a ball shape. Continue this until dough is used up.
3. In a large saucepan or deep fryer, heat oil to 350 degrees. Spread sesame seeds over wax paper and place a small bowl of water next to wax paper.
4. Dip the formed ball into the bowl of water and roll over sesame seed, do this until all balls are covered with sesame seeds.
5. Place sesame balls into oil, a few at a time until the seeds turn light brown and then use a spatula to press the balls against the sides of the saucepan until they expand about 3 times their original size and are golden brown. Drain and serve.
Learn more about Fried Sesame Balls from these Experts
Watch EatNowCryLater make Fried Sesame Balls (VIDEO)
A beautiful take on Fried Sesame Balls from Roti ‘n Rice
HungryHuy shares a Vietnamese version of Fried Sesame Balls
HT: Photo by Midori via Wikimedia Commons.
Tracie
Why did you write about using a spatula to press the balls on the side to expand them and in the video I didnt see you doing that?? Do you really need to?
Wes Radez
Hi Tracie, Pressing the balls to the side of the pan (or between two slotted spoons) is just a way to manage their expansion as they cook. You can keep the balls from bursting and help them to keep their shape as they expand. ~Wes