Chinese · dessert
Sesame Balls (煎堆)
Sesame Balls (煎堆) reads sweetness 7.0, richness 4.2 and nutty 3.2 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Chinese dessert, about 30 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 1.7 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 7.0 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 0.0 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.9 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 5.1 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 0.0 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sweetness 7.0 · Richness 4.2 · Nutty 3.2 · Earthy 1.8 · Umami 1.7 · Bitterness 0.9
What's in it (6)
- 2 cups glutinous rice flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup red bean paste
- 1/2 cup white sesame seeds
- 3 cups vegetable oil for frying
Time & effort: about 30 min (25 min active) · effort: easy
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 277 kcal, 9.3 g protein, 15.7 g fat, 32.5 g carbs
Dietary: Vegan — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Dissolve sugar in warm water, mix into glutinous rice flour to form a smooth dough.
- Flatten small rounds, fill with bean paste, seal, and roll firmly in sesame seeds.
- Deep-fry in moderately hot oil, pressing gently so they puff, until golden and crisp.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Pounded Yam — Nigerian
- Halva (Irmik Helvasi) — Turkish
- Mochi (餅) — Japanese
- Kunefe — Turkish
- Konafa (Kunafa) — Egyptian
Keep reading: what sweetness, richness, nutty mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.