Smiling Balls with Lotus Paste
These sweet fried balls a little like doughnuts are served at Chinese New Year feasts and are easily made. Only make them as you need them because they are much better eaten when fresh and slightly warm.
INGREDIENTS
(Makes 60)
600g plain flour
230g white sugar
16g baking powder dissolved in 300ml water
1 egg
60ml vegetable oil
200g lotus paste
160g white sesame seed
Frying oil
METHOD
Mix the flour sugar baking powder water egg and oil to form a dough. Knead till smooth. Roll out to form three sausages about 1cm in diameter. Cut each sausage into 20 pieces.
Flatten each piece and roll lightly. Fill with a nugget of lotus paste and seal in with a circular twisting motion. Rinse each ball in water and coat in sesame seeds. Rest for 30 minutes or until wanted.
Heat the oil in the wok to a low frying temperature. Fry the balls for about 10 minutes (at low heat or the inside won't cook by the time the sesame seeds are toasted). Drain on absorbent paper.
