INTRODUCTION
Updated post on 24-August 2014, please scroll towards the end for the updated post.
Despite the ugly look of my Jiandui or sesame ball, I have decided to issue the report as I know the reasons of the saggy skin. Among the reasons that I have identified are:
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The use of baking soda in the original recipe and subsequent confirmation with friends and other recipes that baking soda or baking powder were not necessary in the recipe;
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The ratio of dough to filling are too low, meaning the dough skin become too thin and when heated, it expands too fast and result in the brokerage;
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Possibly the heat used for deep frying is too high.
Because of this, in this post, the recipe will be adjusted to exclude baking soda or baking powder, using low to medium heat instead of high heat for deep frying and increase the dough to filling ratio from the initial of 1:1 to the revised 1:5:1.Based on these adjustments, I honestly believed the recipe is definitely a doable recipe since it was not much different fro any other recipes in the internet.
Having said that, the ugly sesame balls were delicious as the skin were very thin and with lots of fillings inside. I have prepared two types of fillings for the sesame balls. One is the ready made red bean paste that can easily be purchased from the bakery shop and another is homemade peanut fillings.
As per Wikipedia:
“Jian dui is a type of fried Chinese pastry made from glutinous rice flour. The pastry is coated with sesame seeds on the outside and is crisp and chewy. Inside the pastry is a large hollow, caused by the expansion of the dough. The hollow of the pastry is filled with a filling usually consisting of lotus paste (蓮蓉), or alternatively sweet black bean paste (hei dousha, 黑豆沙), or less commonly red bean paste (hong dousha, 紅豆沙)”. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jin_deui)
WHAT IS REQUIRED
Servings: About 15 sesame balls
Dough
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250 grams of glutinous rice flour
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50 grams of castor sugar
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80 grams of hot boiling water
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50 grams of fresh milk (optional can be substitute with water)
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2 tablespoons of cooking oil
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1/2 tablespoon of wheat starch
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1/8 teaspoon of baking soda (decided to drop the use of baking soda)
Fillings
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200 grams of grounded peanuts
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10 grams of sesame seeds
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80 grams of sugar
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1 tablespoon of cooking oil
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1 tablespoon of plain flour
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3o grams of water
OR
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300 grams of ready made red bean paste.
Coating
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About 50 grams of roasted sesame seeds.
The dough to filling ratio have been adjusted to approximately 1.5:1, meaning a thicker skin such that it will not break when deep frying.
STEPS OF PREPARATION
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In a bowl, place the the grounded peanuts, sesame seeds, flour, sugar, cooking oil and water. Use a spoon to stir until well mixed. Divide the dough into 15 portions and make it into a ball and press it as tight as possible. If it is too dry, gradually add in additional water until a pliable dough is formed. If you are using the red bean paste, divide into 15 equal portions and shape it into a ball.
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In another bowl, place the sifted glutinous rice flour, cooking oil, sugar and wheat starch. Make a well in the centre, pour in the boiling hot water. Use a spoon and stir it until a paste is form, add in the milk and knead until a pliable smooth dough is formed. Divide it into 15 equal portions.
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Take one portion of the dough, shape in round, flatten it. Put a filling ball on top of the dough.. Seal the edges and shape in round. Pat the glutinous rice ball with some water on hand, roll in a plate or bowl of roasted sesame seeds until the ball is fully coated with sesame seeds. Perform the same for all the remaining 14 portions. Set aside for later deep frying.
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Heat up a pot of hot oil. Use a chopstick to test the readiness of the oil temperature for deep frying. The oil is considered as ready when a chopstick inserts into the oil, bubbles start to emit. Reduce the heat to medium or low. Put the ball carefully in the oil using a spoon. Deep fry for 3-4 minutes until the balls starts to float and the outer layer becomes golden brown. Best served when it is warm as a snack.
CONCLUSION
Though my sesame balls are ugly, however, taste is awesome because the skin is very thin. However, after adjustment of the original recipe, it is unlikely that your sesame balls will break as seen in this post. Pardon me for the poor pictures in the post.
Hope you like the post today. Cheers and have a nice day.
UPDATED POST ON : 24 AUGUST 2014
I have told readers that I have suspected that the sesame balls broke because of the use of baking soda, too high temperature used for the deep frying of the balls and too high the filling to dough ratio. Today, I have decided to testify what I have written earlier. There is no changes to the recipe and the following amendments in the steps of preparation are as follows:
- Omit the use of baking soda (already mentioned above)
- Use medium heat to deep fry the sesame balls
- My dough to filling ratio have change from about 1:1 to 1:0.7 meaning, 25 grams of filling with 35 grams of dough.
The balls did not break and I am happy with the outcome. All the above changes have been properly reflected in the recipe above.
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I will have to try that sometime. Those things are addictive at the dim sum restaurant.
Thank you.