Sesame balls with red bean paste (Jiandui) is a traditional Chinese street food item. It is made from glutinous rice flour. It is then stuffed with sweetened red bean paste. The dough is covered in sesame seeds on the outside and chewy on the inside. The ball inside is hollow, caused by the expansion of the dough when it is deep fried.
Sesame Balls with Red Bean Paste (Jian Dui)
Popular Chinese street food item featuring deep-fried glutinous rice balls filled with sweetened red bean paste.
Ingredients
Glutinous Rice Ball
- 150 grams glutinous rice flour
- 188 grams hot water
- 75 grams sugar
- 30 grams glutinous rice flour
- 1 tsp olive oil
Filling
- 20 balls sweetened red bean paste 1.5 tsp scoops rolled into a ball and then frozen
Topping
- 1 tbsp glutinous rice flour
- 1 tbsp warm water
- 1 cup sesame seeds
Instructions
Prep the Glutinous Rice Balls
- In a mixing bowl, combine 150 grams of glutinous rice flour. Mix together hot water and sugar in a separate bowl. Slowly combine water sugar mixture into the glutinous rice flour. Mix well until incorporated, mixture should resemble a slurry.
- Carefully add in 30 grams of glutinous rice flour to the mixture unti lthe dough starts to combine together into a bowl. It should not be sticky, if it is combine 1 tsp of glutinous rice flour until it no longer is.
- Add in 1 tsp of oil and gently knead together until smooth (1 minute). Set aside for 30 minutes.
Roll the Glutinous Rice Balls
- After 30 minutes, roll the dough onto a dusted surface with glutinous rice. Cut into 20 even pieces.
- Carefully roll out the dough and place the frozen sweetened red bean paste into the centre. Gently pinch the sides and roll together to form a solid ball. Repeat the process for the rest of the balls.
Topping
- In a separate bowl, mix together 1 tbsp of warm water and 1 tbsp of glutinous rice flour. Carefully dip each of the balls into the water glutinous rice mixture. Then toss into a bowl of sesame seeds until covered. Lightly squeeze the balls with the sesame seeds to prevent the seeds from falling out. The sesame seeds will help provide the crispy outer edge.
Cook the Glutinous Rice Balls
- Using a deep-fryer or a large pot. Combine in 6 cups of canola oil and heat to 250° F. Carefully add in 8 - 10 balls into the pot depending on the size of your pot, not overcrowding the balls. Gently mix the balls to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot. The balls will slowly start to bubble and cook.
- Continue to carefully move the balls around to cook evenly for 15 minutes. Once the balls are golden brown, remove from heat. Serve immediately.
Let me know how you enjoy this recipe in the comments below! Stay tuned for more recipes!
xx, CWC
