Jian Dui (Sesame Balls)

Jian dui are a staple Chinese language pastry discovered internationally. They’re made with glutinous rice flour, usually full of a candy paste, rolled in sesame seeds, after which fried till golden-brown. One might describe them as a stuffed, sesame-crusted mochi doughnut: They’re crispy on the skin, comfortable and chewy on the within. Jian dui aren’t solely scrumptious but in addition have nice that means behind them. They’re served throughout holidays as they signify prosperity with their spherical form and golden coloration. One can find jian dui at Lunar New Yr celebrations, birthdays, and weddings to want folks good luck.

Whereas jian dui are mostly discovered at dim sum parlors and bakeries, my fondness for them comes from neither place. My earliest recollections are from after-school time at Bo Bo Could’s home, the place she would make jian dui from scratch, principally full of crimson bean paste, however a few of them savory or, particular only for me, plain — crispy, spherical, and empty on the within, the final word crunchy and chewy expertise.

The preferred fillings are lotus seed paste or crimson bean, however different frequent fillings embody black sesame, peanut paste, and mung bean. Bo Bo Could’s kitchen was the one place I ever had a savory jian dui. She stuffed hers with diced lap cheung (Chinese language sausage), shiitake mushrooms, inexperienced onions, and preserved daikon. It wasn’t till years later, after I was serving to open a Chinese language restaurant, that I might come throughout one other savory filling. The chef had sesame balls on the menu as an appetizer full of a combination of diced greens.

This fluctuation from candy to savory bought me considering: What else can we put inside this dough? The grasp dough recipe right here was taught to me by pastry chef Clarice Lam when she created her signature Nutella mochi bomboloncini: jian dui full of Nutella and coated with sesame, hazelnuts, and sugar. My filling, a traditional mixture of guava and cheese, comes from a Chino Latino popup I did in Miami. After all, this dough can be utilized nevertheless you need. You may fill it with nothing, be inventive and make it match the event, or go conventional with lotus seed paste or crimson bean paste, which could be bought pre-made from an Asian grocery retailer. Outdoors of Lunar New Yr, if you’d like extra coloration, combine white sesame seeds with black sesame seeds.

For some festive plating, particularly throughout Lunar New Yr, discover crimson and/or gold cupcake liners. The 1.5” x 1” cupcake liner works greatest for this dimension of jian dui.

Are glutinous rice flour and rice flour the identical factor?

Whereas each are made out of rice, glutinous rice flour and common rice flour aren’t the identical factor. When hydrated, glutinous rice flour turns into sticky and creates merchandise with a chewy texture. Common rice flour acts extra much like wheat flour and creates merchandise with a cakier texture. 

How a lot crimson bean paste ought to I take advantage of?

When you select to make use of conventional crimson bean paste as an alternative of the cream cheese filling, you will want 10 tablespoons, or about 6 ounces of crimson bean paste. Skip Step 1 and go straight to Step 2 within the directions.

Notes from the Meals & Wine Check Kitchen

A trick to coating the jian dui is to dip the ball within the water, shake off any extra water, and drop the moist dough ball into the bowl of sesame seeds, all utilizing one hand. Then use the opposite hand to roll the dough ball within the bowl of sesame seeds. This methodology will guarantee one hand is at all times dry so you may work on the following sesame ball neatly.

Make forward

These are greatest eaten recent or on the day they’re fried. A correctly made sesame ball ought to retain its spherical form and even keep barely crunchy after cooling. Within the following days, the jian dui can get somewhat comfortable.