Sesame Balls with Lotus Seed Paste (蓮茸煎堆仔)

Apart from the steamed New Year cake, these sesame balls are the ultimate Chinese New Year's treat.  Traditionally, Chinese food is steamed or stir-fry rather than deep-fried.  However, Chinese housewives like to make deep fry treats for the New Year as the golden colour from deep fried food resemble "gold" and "fortune."  They especially like the round shape as round means "full" and "united" which is a lucky sign for the family.

Have you seen the tigers shuffling with the dragon?

                          

There are 3 more days to go for the Chinese New Year.  You are welcome to celebrate the event by sending a picture of your Chinese New Year cooking (sweet or savoury) with/without a link to veronicaskitchen@facebook.com. Then I will post all on 23rd January (Australian time). Blogger and non-blogger are both welcome.  Let's celebrate our biggest festival together!    

Sesame Balls with Lotus Seed Paste (蓮茸煎堆仔)

(make about 28)

150g glutinous rice flour

40g lotus seed paste

1/4 cup white sesame

1/2 cup water

3 Tbsp sugar

Method:

1. Boil water in a small saucepan and stir in sugar until it is totally dissolved.  Let it cool a bit.
2. Add the syrup into the flour and knead into dough.
3. Take half of the dough into a microwave safe bowl and cook the dough on medium heat for about 70 seconds or until the dough started to turn transparent.
4. Knead the cooked dough with the remaining dough until well incorporated.  Divide dough into small pieces about 1 inch in diameter.
5. Press flat the dough and warp it with lotus seed paste and roll into balls.  Dip in water and coat with white sesame.
6. Heat oil in the frying pan, deep fry the sesame balls until golden and floating on the surface.  

Source: Adopted from the cookbook: Chinese Desserts 100 中式甜品 by Winnie 姐.