Tangyuan
汤圆 · yuanxiao
Glutinous rice balls eaten during Lantern Festival and family gatherings. Their round shape carries strong symbolic weight — in Chinese culture, roundness evokes completeness and reunion.
About this dish
Tangyuan is a Chinese glutinous-rice dumpling associated with the Lantern Festival and family gatherings. Its round shape is linked with reunion and togetherness, while sweet fillings and serving syrups vary between households.
Recipe
Black sesame tangyuan in ginger syrup
Filling
- 60 g toasted black sesame seeds
- 40 g sugar
- 35 g softened unsalted butter
Dough
- 200 g glutinous rice flour
- 175-190 ml warm water
Syrup
- 800 ml water
- 50 g brown sugar
- 20 g fresh ginger, sliced
- 1
Filling: 60 g toasted black sesame seeds; 40 g sugar; 35 g softened unsalted butter. Grind sesame finely and mix with sugar and butter. Chill until firm enough to roll into 20 small balls. Grind seeds finely and chill filling until it holds a ball without smearing.
- 2
Dough: 200 g glutinous rice flour; 175-190 ml warm water. Mix rice flour with 175 ml warm water, adding the remainder gradually to make a smooth, pliable dough. Divide into 20. Start at the lower water amount; add the remainder gradually. A flattened piece should bend without cracks and not leave wet paste on your palms.
- 3
Flatten each dough portion, enclose a sesame ball and pinch shut. Roll smooth, avoiding cracks; keep covered. Make a cup, bring the rim fully around filling, pinch shut and smooth every crack.
- 4
Syrup: 800 ml water; 50 g brown sugar; 20 g fresh ginger, sliced. Simmer syrup ingredients 10 minutes. In a separate pot, gently simmer dumplings 8-12 minutes, until floating and tender throughout. Transfer to syrup and serve hot. Cook in roomy separate water and stir once to release bottoms. Check an evenly chewy shell without a powdery center; cool the molten filling slightly before biting.
Note
Use glutinous rice flour, not ordinary rice flour. A vigorous boil can split the shells. Sesame filling is hot inside; let each ball cool slightly before eating.