Sesame Balls

Dough:

 1 1/2 cups glutinous rice flour (sweet rice flour)

 6 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

 10 tablespoons hot water

Filling (optional):

 1/2 cup red bean paste (store-bought or homemade)

 Toasted black sesame seeds (for decoration)

Other:

 about 1/2 cup sesame seeds

 vegetable oil for frying

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make sesame balls:

1. Make the dough. In a large bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour and brown sugar. Using a spoon, slowly stir in the hot water until a shaggy dough forms. If the dough feels dry, add a bit more hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it comes together.

2. Knead the dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.

3. Prepare the filling (optional). If you’re using red bean paste filling, divide the red bean paste into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball between your palms to make it smooth.

4. Shape the sesame balls. Divide the dough into 15-20 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Flatten a dough ball in your palm and place a red bean paste ball in the center. Pinch the dough around the filling to seal it completely. Roll the ball again between your palms to make it smooth. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

5. Coat the sesame balls in sesame seeds. Place the sesame seeds in a shallow dish. Roll each sesame ball in the sesame seeds to coat completely.

6. Fry the sesame balls. Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat to 350°F (175°C). Carefully add a few sesame balls at a time to the hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove the sesame balls from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

7. Serve. Let the sesame balls cool slightly before serving. Enjoy them warm or at room temperature.

Tips:

 If you don’t have glutinous rice flour, you can substitute all-purpose flour. However, the sesame balls won’t be as chewy.

 You can also use other fillings for your sesame balls, such as black bean paste, taro paste, or lotus seed paste.

 To make sure the sesame balls don’t burst while frying, make sure the dough is sealed properly around the filling.

 If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test the oil temperature by dropping a small piece of dough into the oil. If the dough sizzles and floats to the surface, the oil is hot enough.