Sesame Balls

Introducing my grandmother’s creation: crunchy glutinous rice balls coated in sesame seeds and filled with a satisfyingly chewy, subtly sweet, mochi-like center. This recipe impresses with its ability to come together using fewer than five 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) are 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.

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 fewer than five ingredients and costing just $10. It offers great versatility, allowing for various fillings like red bean paste, lotus seed paste, peanut butter, taro paste, or black sesame paste to be incorporated. If you want to learn how to make sesame balls with filling, check out my Black Sesame Balls recipe!

Technique

How do you make sesame balls without 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. Roll these dough balls generously in sesame seeds, making sure they are coated all around. It’s important to ensure that all the balls of dough and filling are uniform in size.

This way, they will fry evenly and at the same temperature, resulting in a consistent and delicious outcome!

How do you make sesame balls with filling?

If you would like to make sesame balls with filling, please refer to my Black Sesame Balls recipe!

How do you fry sesame balls?

To make them successfully, pay attention to the oil temperature. If oil is too hot, it can cause the 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 balls will burn quickly without getting a chance to cook properly. Once the oil is at the right temperature, put the 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. Leave them in the oil for about 15 to 17 minutes.

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. 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.