Tang Yuan are chewy glutinous rice balls filled with a sweet paste. Tang yuan are often served in warm, sweetened ginger broth during Lunar New Year celebrations and Lantern Festival.
Tang yuan holds deep symbolism during Lunar New Year, particularly in Chinese culture. The round shape of the dumplings represents unity, completeness, and family togetherness. Eating tang yuan with loved ones signifies a wish for harmony in the coming year. In the case of black sesame tang yuan, the black sesame filling also carries meaning: it is believed to promote longevity and health, making it a perfect dish for welcoming a new year full of good fortune and blessings.
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Ingredients (Makes 10-12 Tang Yuan)
- Glutinous Rice Flour
- Black Sesame Seeds
- White Sugar
- Unsalted Butter, softened at room temperature
- ⅓ Water (plus more if needed for the dough)
For the Ginger Broth:
- Ginger
- Brown sugar
- Date (optional)
- Water
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Tang Yuan
Step 1: Add black sesame seeds into a food processor or grinder, pulse for a few seconds, then add sugar and butter.
Step 2: Pulse or mix until the seeds turn into a fine paste. Transfer to the freezer while you prepare for the dough.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, add glutinous rice flour. Gradually add water, stirring constantly until the dough comes together.
Step 4: Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. Add more water if it is too dry. It should feel like a Play-Doh texture.
Step 5: Roll the dough into a long log.
Step 6: Divide the dough into 10-12 small equal pieces.
Step 7: Form the sesame paste into small balls.
Step 8: Place a sesame ball in the center of each dough disc.
Step 9: Wrap the dough around the filling with your fingers and pinch the edges to seal.
Step 10: Use your palm to roll the dough into a smooth ball. Repeat with the remaining dough and sesame filling.
Step 11: In a pot, bring the water to a boil and add the rice balls.
Step 12: Cook for about 5-6 minutes or until the rice balls float to the surface.
What to Serve with Tang Yuan
You can serve tang yuan with plain hot water, or with sweet ginger broth.
To make ginger broth, bring 5 cups of water, ⅓ cup of brown sugar, few slices of ginger, dates (optional) in a pot. Bring it to a boil, cover, then let it simmer for about 30 minutes. Pour the broth over a bowl of tang yuan. Serve hot immediately and enjoy!
Recipe
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Black Sesame Tang Yuan Recipe
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 10-12 rice balls 1x
Description
Tang Yuan are chewy glutinous rice balls filled with a sweet paste. Tang yuan are often served in warm, sweetened ginger broth during Lunar New Year celebrations and Lantern Festival.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Black Sesame Seeds
- 2 tbsp White Sugar
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, softened at room temperature
- ⅓ Water (plus more if needed for the dough)
- 1 cup Glutinous Rice Flour
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Instructions
- Add black sesame seeds into a food processor or grinder, pulse for a few seconds, then add sugar and butter. Pulse or mix until the seeds turn into a fine paste. Transfer to the freezer while you prepare for the dough.
- In a large mixing bowl, add glutinous rice flour. Gradually add water, stirring constantly until the dough comes together.
- Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. Add more water if it is too dry. It should feel like a Play-Doh texture.
- Roll the dough into a long log. Then divide the dough into 10-12 small equal pieces.
- Form the sesame paste into small balls. Then place a sesame ball in the center of each dough disc.
- Wrap the dough around the filling with your fingers and pinch the edges to seal. Use your palm to roll the dough into a smooth ball. Repeat with the remaining dough and sesame filling.
- In a pot, bring the water to a boil and add the rice balls.
- Cook for about 5-6 minutes or until the rice balls float to the surface.
- Serve tang yuan immediately with plain hot water, or with sweet ginger broth.
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