Chewy Pumpkin Sesame balls - 南瓜芝麻球

Recipe:

Ingredients:

Chewy pumpkin Dough:

150 g pumpkin, discard skin, steamed and mashed

150 g glutinous rice flour

55 g wheat starch flour (澄面粉）

75 g sugar

5 g shortening

Filling Ingredients:

~ 70 g dessicated coconut

~ 45 g sugared melon strips (冬瓜糖）

~45 g ground peanut

~35 g white sesame seeds

~35 g sugar

OR Red bean paste, roll into small balls.

Extra sesame seeds for coating

Method:

1) Combine filling ingredients and set aside.

2) Combine dough ingredients with enough water to form a pliable dough (see note below). Roll it out on a floured surface into a cylinder. Divide dough into 25 equal portions, and roll into small balls.

3) Slightly flatten dough, wrap in filling and enclose. Roll into balls again.

4) Roll balls over wet sesame seeds.

5) Pour oil in a wok, with medium heat, deep fry the balls until golden brown.

6) Dish up and serve.

picture A

During my last trip to Guangdong, while walking to the restaurant to have dinner with the relatives, we passed by a biscuit shop, I was attracted by the appearance of the cakes ( picture A), out of curiosity, I asked the boss what it was. He told me they were pumpkin cakes. They were freshly made from the kitchen.  And I also saw 3 sacks of pumpkins on the floor. That already told me , this is their signature cake of the shop. So...so, I bought 500g of it, it costed me only a few RMB. It tasted good, and chewy to the bite. I like.

So today, I tried making it . to my surprise , it turned out to be very similar (my picture on the top) . What do you think? Do they look alike? Method is very easy. With the same recipe as per the chewy pumpkin balls above, slightly flatten the balls (make bigger ball to adapt to the size of the biscuit), roll over sesame seeds, over medium heat deep fry until golden brown.

note :

it is a matter of your ingredients and 'feel'. let me suggest that you first combine all the dough ingredients and knead. If small amount cannot be rolled into a small ball , i.e. it breaks or crumbles in your palm, it means the dough needs water (room temperature). add 1-2 table spoon full of water to the dough and knead. if the small ball still crumbles, some more water is needed in the dough. i honestly cannot tell you the exact amount as i added water in small amount each time and i never measure. To be conservative, add small amount of water each time.

please note : if the dough first kneaded (before adding any water) feels wet and sticky ( because your ingredients contain water) . add some glutinous flour.