Dim Sum Recipe

Sesame Balls

Dim sum · Makes 12 · 50 minutes

Fried glutinous rice balls coated in sesame seeds and filled with sweet paste.

Recipe at a glance

Serves / makesMakes 12
Time50 minutes
Cuisine or formatDim Sum
UseHome cooking and menu literacy

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups glutinous rice flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup hot water
  • 1/2 cup red bean or lotus paste
  • 1/2 cup sesame seeds
  • Oil for frying

Method

  1. Dissolve sugar in hot water.
  2. Mix with glutinous rice flour into a smooth dough.
  3. Divide and wrap each piece around filling.
  4. Roll in sesame seeds.
  5. Fry at moderate heat, turning often.
  6. Drain and cool slightly.

Menu-literacy notes

  • Sesame balls are chewy, crisp, and sweet.
  • Contains sesame and may involve shared fryer risk.
  • Glutinous rice flour is needed for the right texture.

Variations and substitutions

  • Adjust salt, sugar, chile, and vinegar gradually rather than changing all seasonings at once.
  • For allergies or religious dietary needs, check sauces, wrappers, broth, cooking wine, and shared equipment.
  • When adapting the dish, preserve the core technique and flavor structure that make it recognizable on a menu.

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