Steamed Red Bean Paste Glutinous Rice Balls
Soft, chewy steamed dumplings made with a blend of rice flours, filled with sweet red bean paste. These delicate treats have a pretty pink and white appearance perfect for dim sum or dessert.
Story
These tender rice dumplings are a classic Chinese dessert with a lovely dual-tone appearance. The pink outer layer comes from adding a bit of pink food coloring to half the dough, creating an eye-catching presentation.
Ingredients
glutinous rice flour
100g
rice flour
30g
wheat starch (tang fen)
20g
granulated sugar
40g
vegetable oil
1 tablespoon
whole milk
150ml
red bean paste
120g
pink food coloring
a few drops (optional)
Instructions
1
Mix dry ingredients
Combine glutinous rice flour, rice flour, and wheat starch in a large bowl. Whisk together until evenly distributed.
2
Add wet ingredients
Stir in sugar, vegetable oil, and milk. Mix until you get a smooth, thick batter with no lumps. The consistency should be similar to pancake batter.
3
Steam the dough
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Steam over boiling water for 25 to 30 minutes until the dough is fully cooked through and translucent.
4
Knead the dough
Carefully remove from steamer. Stir with chopsticks to release excess moisture, then let cool just until comfortable to touch. Knead vigorously until you get a smooth, pliable dough.
5
Divide and color
Split the dough in half. Add a few drops of pink food coloring to one half and knead until evenly colored. Leave the other half white.
6
Form and fill
Divide each portion into 8 equal pieces (16 total). Flatten each piece in your palm, place a spoonful of red bean paste in the center, then pinch closed and roll into a smooth ball.
7
Final steam
Arrange the finished balls on parchment-lined steamer trays. Steam for 5 minutes just to set the shape. Serve warm or at room temperature.
