Sesame Balls
Chewy fried glutinous rice balls coated in sesame seeds.
Ingredients
- 250 g Glutinous rice
- 80 g Sugar
- 80 g Sesame seeds
- 500 ml Neutral oil
Method
- Mix the glutinous rice flour with the sugar and hot water into a smooth, soft dough.
- Roll the dough into balls and coat each thoroughly in the sesame seeds.
- Heat the neutral oil to a gentle frying temperature and fry the balls, pressing them against the pot now and then so they expand, until golden and crisp.
- Drain on paper towels and serve warm.
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About Sesame Balls
Sesame balls, known as jian dui, are a classic Chinese fried sweet found on dim sum carts and at festivals — chewy spheres of glutinous rice dough, coated in sesame seeds and fried until crisp and hollow. The dough is nothing more than glutinous rice flour, sugar, and hot water worked into a smooth, soft mass, which puffs dramatically as it fries. Rolled and pressed thoroughly into the seeds before they hit the oil, each ball emerges studded and golden.
The magic is in the frying: cooked gently and pressed against the side of the pot now and then, the balls expand into a light, airy shell while the inside stays intensely chewy. Eating one hot is all about that contrast — the shatter of crisp sesame crust giving way to a stretchy, mildly sweet interior. Served warm as a dessert or teatime snack, they're best fresh from the oil, and the coaxing-them-to-expand step is what separates a puffed, crackly ball from a dense, heavy one.
Sesame Balls: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Sesame Balls?
A serving has about 363 calories — 5.2g protein, 50.5g carbs, 16.1g fat, 2.7g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Sesame Balls gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Sesame Balls has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Sesame Balls take to make?
About 45 minutes start to finish, but only around 30 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Sesame Balls make?
This recipe makes 6 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.