Sesame Balls

also called jin deui · jian dui · zin deoi · 煎堆 · sesame ball · deep fried sesame ball · matuan

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Sesame Balls: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
1/3 cup(70 g)brown sugarstir the sugar into hot water, cool 10 minknead to a soft dough, rest 20 minseal the paste inside 12 ballsroll them damp, then through the sesamefry 300°F (150°C) 12 min, pressing them under
2/3 cup(160 mL)hot water
2 cups(280 g)glutinous rice flour
2 Tbs(20 g)wheat starch
1 cup(280 g; rolled into 12 balls)red bean paste
3/4 cup(100 g)white sesame seeds
6 cups(1.4 L; started at 300°F/150°C)peanut oil
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.8 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1stir the sugar into hot water, cool 10 min

2knead to a soft dough, rest 20 min

goes in with what step 1 made

3seal the paste inside 12 balls

goes in with what step 2 made

4roll them damp, then through the sesame

goes in with what step 3 made

5fry 300°F (150°C) 12 min, pressing them under

goes in with what step 4 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 42 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
12 minof the steps that give a time

2 of the 5 steps never say how long they take, so both numbers are floors. The recipe itself says 1 hr 30 min.

  1. stir the sugar into hot water, cool 10 min

    10 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. knead to a soft dough, rest 20 min

    20 minwalk away10 min in

  3. seal the paste inside 12 balls

    not timed30 min in

  4. roll them damp, then through the sesame

    not timed30 min in

  5. fry 300°F (150°C) 12 min, pressing them under

    12 minneeds you30 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them.

You'll need pot

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Sesame Balls
>> category: Dumplings & Rolls
>> tags: glutinous rice, red bean, chinese, deep-fry, sweet
>> counters: Dim Sum Counter
>> aka: jin deui, jian dui, zin deoi, 煎堆, sesame ball, deep fried sesame ball, matuan
>> pairs-with: red-bean-paste
>> servings: 12
>> time: 1 hr 30 min
>> step.1: stir the sugar into hot water, cool 10 min
>> step.2: knead to a soft dough, rest 20 min
>> step.3: seal the paste inside 12 balls
>> step.4: roll them damp, then through the sesame
>> step.5: fry 300°F (150°C) 12 min, pressing them under

Stir @brown sugar{1/3%cup}(70 g) into @hot water{2/3%cup}(160 mL) until it has dissolved, then ~cool{10%min} to blood warm.

Knead @glutinous rice flour{2%cups}(280 g) and @wheat starch{2%Tbs}(20 g) into @&(~1)sugar syrup{} to a dough that takes a thumbprint without cracking, then ~rest{20%min}.

Divide @&(~1)dough{} into 12 and seal @red bean paste{1%cup}(280 g; rolled into 12 balls) inside each one, working the seam closed so no air is shut in with it — a trapped bubble bursts the ball in the oil.

Roll @&(~1)balls{} under a damp palm and then through @white sesame seeds{3/4%cup}(100 g), pressing hard enough that the seeds bed in.

Fry @&(~1)balls{} in @peanut oil{6%cups}(1.4 L; started at 300°F/150°C) for ~fry{12%min}, turning them and pressing them gently against the side of the #pot{} as they rise, until they have tripled and gone hollow. The pressing is what puffs them; left to bob they stay dense and split.