Black Sesame Balls

Introducing my grandmother’s creation: crunchy glutinous rice balls coated in sesame seeds and filled with a satisfyingly chewy, subtly sweet black sesame paste center. This recipe impresses with its ability to come together using fewer than six ingredients and a budget-friendly low cost. My tips will help you make a fool proof batch!

What are sesame balls?

Sesame balls (jian du, zhima zhou, buchi, bánh cam, onde-onde) crispy and chewy treats made from glutinous rice flour, sugar, water, and oil. They are rice balls coated in sesame seeds and deep-fried to achieve a crispy, golden-brown exterior. When you bite into a sesame ball, you’ll experience a delightful combination of textures—a chewy and subtly sweet center, reminiscent of mochi. These sesame balls feature black sesame paste! If you prefer a plain sesame ball without filling, you can refer to my Sesame Balls recipe!

It was my Shanghainese grandma, whom I called Ah Po, who first introduced me to sesame balls. I have vivid memories of her preparing these treats at home for my sister and I to snack on when we were children. On lazier days, she would simply purchase them from the Chinatown. Ah Po always preferred the sesame balls filled with red bean paste. Her nurturing nature extended beyond her words, reaching me through the comforting flavors of her cooking.

Why This Works

In this post, I’m excited to share my grandmother’s cherished recipe for sesame balls with you! Each bite reveals a satisfyingly chewy center, with a hint of sweetness that is very comparable to mochi. This recipe stands out due to its simplicity, requiring six ingredients and costing just $10. It offers great versatility, allowing for various fillings like red bean, lotus seed, peanut butter, taro, green bean, or black sesame to be incorporated. If you love this recipe, you might also love my Best Ever Mango Sticky Rice Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies, Milk Tea Panna Cotta, and Milk Cookies with White Rabbit Candy recipes!

Technique

How do you prepare sesame balls with filling?

Prepare the dough by dissolving sugar in water over medium-high heat in a separate pan. Make sure that the sugar is completely melted. In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup of glutinous rice flour with the sugar water.

Mix until the consistency is thin and runny.

Gradually add the remaining glutinous rice flour or until the mixture becomes clumpy.

Continue mixing, either with a paddle or your hands, until the dough forms a soft and smooth ball. Add one teaspoon of oil into the dough and mix until uniform.

Afterward, divide the dough into eight equal pieces and shape them into round balls.

Cut open the bag of paste. Divide the paste into halves, then divide one of the halves into eight equal portions, making sure that each piece weighs 1 oz each.

Shape each piece of filling into a round ball. Be sure to clean your hands before handling the white sesame ball dough.

Now, take one of the dough balls and flatten it in your hands. Place one of the shaped filling balls in the center of the flattened dough. Carefully bring the edges of the dough together and pinch them to seal the filling inside.

Roll these filled dough balls generously in sesame seeds, making sure they are coated all around. Repeat until all sesame balls are completed. It’s important to ensure that all the sesame balls are similar in size. This way, they will fry evenly and at the same temperature, resulting in a consistent and delicious outcome!

How do you prepare sesame balls without filling?

If you prefer a sesame ball that is less sweet and less rich but still super delicious, check out my Sesame Balls recipe!

How do you fry sesame balls?

To make sesame balls successfully, pay attention to the oil temperature. If oil is too hot, it can cause the sesame balls to expand too rapidly and burst. First, make sure the oil temperature is around 250°F / 111°C. I recommend using a probe thermometer to make sure since oil can overheat very quickly. You can even use that point and shoot thermometer that is sitting in your cabinets from the pandemic.

If the oil gets too hot, the sesame balls will burn quickly without getting a chance to cook properly. Once the oil is at the right temperature, put the sesame balls into the pan and fry them over low heat. Cooking them over low heat allows them to cook evenly and prevents them from burning.

They should be continuously flipped until they start to float, approximately 10-12 minutes. Once they float, take turns pushing each sesame ball down submerging it in the hot oil, approximately 8 minutes. This step is going to help the sesame balls expand and round out. Continue until they turn golden brown. Then drain on a paper towel.

What type of oil can you use to fry sesame balls?

When frying food, opt for a neutral oil like vegetable or peanut oil. It is important to note that canola oil may not be the best choice due to health concerns associated with its consumption for both adults and children.

How do you air fry sesame balls?

It’s worth noting that when frying sesame balls, only a minimal amount of oil is absorbed into the pastries. Additionally, once the sesame balls are cooked, you can place them on a paper towel to allow any excess oil to be absorbed, which is very effective at reducing the oil content.

If you’re not a fan of using oil, sesame balls can be air fried! Air frying is a cooking method that uses hot air circulation to cook food, similar to deep frying but with significantly less oil. It results in a crispy texture while reducing the overall fat content. You can refer to my Air Fried Sesame Balls recipe.

Can I store sesame balls?

Unfortunately, sesame balls should not be stored. They need to be consumed on the same day they are made. I’ve experimented with air frying and microwaving them 24 hours later, but neither method yields satisfactory results. Air frying tends to make them excessively stale, while microwaving causes them to become soft, compromising their delightful crunchiness. When air frying sesame balls that have a filling, it can be challenging to evenly heat the filling without risking overcooking the exterior. As a result, the filling often remains cool in the process.

Additionally, it’s crucial to prepare them just before cooking to avoid the glutinous rice dough from drying out. If it becomes dry, the exterior may crack and burst during the frying process.

Special Ingredients

What is glutinous rice flour?

Glutinous rice flour is a type of flour made from a specific variety of rice known as glutinous or sticky rice. Unlike regular rice flour, it contains a higher amount of starch, which gives it its characteristic stickiness when cooked. This flour is commonly used in various Asian cuisines to make dishes like dumplings, noodles, and desserts. Its sticky nature helps provide a chewy texture to the final product.

One common question I receive is whether alternative flours can be used for this recipe. Unfortunately, the answer is no. It’s crucial to avoid using all-purpose flour or regular rice flour as substitutes because they have distinct characteristics. If you use plain rice flour, the resulting dough will lack the desired taste and texture. It may become dense, resembling a hockey puck rather than the desired chewy consistency. Therefore, it is important to stick to glutinous rice flour for the best results in this recipe.

The specific brand of glutinous rice flour I use is called Erawan Glutinous Rice Flour, which is a Thai variety. It is approximately $2.59 for a 1 lb bag in my region. With this amount, you can make three batches of sesame balls, yielding a total of 24 pieces. I advise against using different brands of glutinous rice flour because the water measurements may vary. To ensure consistent results, it’s best to stick with the recommended brand as specified in the recipe.

What types of filling can you use in sesame balls?

Sesame balls are not only popular in Chinese cuisine but also widely enjoyed in Filipino, Malaysian, and Vietnamese ones too. In Chinese cuisine, the most commonly used fillings are red bean, lotus seed, or black sesame. When selecting a filling, it is important to choose one that is very firm in texture. Fillings that are too soft or runny can make it difficult to shape the sesame balls and may result in bursting during frying. A firm filling ensures a successful batch.

You can easily find these fillings at a Chinese grocery store or through online Chinese grocery retailers. Look for them in the dry pantry aisle or refrigerated section; I have found them in both places at various supermarkets. Whether you prefer to visit a physical store or shop online, you’ll have convenient access to these delicious fillings to create the perfect sesame balls.