Sesame Balls
- 2 1/2 slabs brown candy (peen tong),chopped
- 3 cups glutinous rice flour
- 1 cup Sweetened Red Bean Paste , store-bought or homemade
- 1/3 cup white sesame seeds
- 2 quarts vegetable oil
- Dissolve the brown candy in 1 cup of boiling water and set aside to cool overnight.
- Place the rice flour in a large bowl.
- Make a well and add candy water all at once.
- Stir until the water is incorporated; the dough will be smooth but slightly sticky.
- Dust hands lightly with rice flour and roll dough into a thick rope.
- Cut the rope into 24 equal pieces, roll each piece into a ball and flatten to make a 2 1/2-inch round.
- Using the thumbs and index fingers from both hands, pleat the edge of the dough to form a cup.
- Place one index finger into the cup and gently press the dough into the opposite palm on all sides of the cup to create a smooth, even surface and to make the dough even thinner.
- Add a scant 1 teaspoon of the red bean paste mixture.
- Gently pack the filling down.
- Gather the edges of the dough over the filling and, again, pleat until the hole is about 1/2 inch in diameter.
- Squeeze together the dough, pressing to seal the dough securely.
- Roll between palms to form a ball.
- Continue filling the remainder of the dough.
- Place a sheet of waxed paper on the counter and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
- Roll and press the outside of each ball in the sesame seeds.
- In a 8-inch wide, 5-inch deep pot, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking, about 330 degrees on a deep-fat thermometer.
- Carefully add 6 sesame balls at a time, and cook over medium heat until golden, 6 to 7 minutes.
- As the balls float to the surface, begin to press them gently with the back of a metal spatula against the sides of the pot.
- The balls will expand as they are gently rotated and pressed.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
- Place on a plate lined with several thicknesses of paper towels.
- Repeat with remaining sesame balls.
- Set aside oil to cool before discarding.
- Serve immediately.
brown candy, rice flour, red bean paste, white sesame seeds, vegetable oil
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/sesame-balls-104210 (may not work)