Jiān Duī — Golden Spheres of Fortune
"Crispy sesame shell, chewy mochi inside, sweet red bean heart. Chinese New Year in every bite."
Mix glutinous rice flour and sugar. Add boiling water gradually, stirring. Add oil. Knead until smooth and pliable (not sticky).
Divide dough into 16 pieces. Roll red bean paste into 16 small balls.
Flatten each dough piece, place bean paste ball in center, seal and roll smooth.
Brush ball with water, roll in sesame seeds, pressing gently to adhere.
Heat oil to 300°F (lower than typical frying!). Fry balls slowly, turning constantly, until golden and puffed (about 8-10 minutes).
High heat = burnt sesame seeds and raw inside. Low heat allows even cooking and maximum puffing.
Drain on paper towels. Serve warm.
Replace red bean with black sesame paste for an extra nutty, aromatic version.
Premium mooncake filling works beautifully inside sesame balls too.
Skip the filling entirely for simple, hollow sesame balls — still delicious.