Yuanxiao and Tangyuan are balls of glutinous rice, sometimes rolled around a filling of sesame, peanuts, vegetable, or meat.

The round shape symbolizes wholeness and unity.

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups (500 g) sticky rice flour

butter 7 oz (200 g)

black sesame powder 7 oz (200 g)

sugar 8 oz (250 g)

1 tsp wine

Methods

1. Mix the butter with sesame powder, sugar and wine together. You need to heat it a little bit. Make small balls about 0.3-0.4 oz (10 g) each.

2. Take 1/2 cup of sticky rice flour. Add water to the flour and flatten the dough. Cook it in boiling water and take out when done. Let it cool. Then put it in the rest of the sticky rice flour. Add water and knead until the dough is smooth.

3. Make the dough into small pieces about 0.3-0.4 oz (10 g) each. Make it into a ball using your hands and then make a hole in the ball like a snail. Put the sesame ball into it and close it up.

4. Cook them in boiling water. Keep stirring in one direction while cooking. When they float, continue to boil for about one minute using less heat.