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Chinese

Tangyuan (black sesame rice balls in ginger syrup)

Non-vegetarian

汤圆 · tāngyuán

Soft, chewy glutinous rice balls with a molten black-sesame centre, served in a warming ginger and brown-sugar syrup for the Lantern Festival and winter solstice.

Tangyuan (black sesame rice balls in ginger syrup) is a Chinese dessert from China, ready in about 1 hour 30 minutes and made with glutinous rice flour and sesame seeds. It serves 4 and is rated intermediate to cook.

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Prep
45 min
Cook
15 min
Rest
30 min
Total
1 h 30 min
Serves
4
Level
Intermediate
Calories
429

Ingredients

4 servings (about 20 balls)

Filling

Syrup

Equipment

Method

  1. Step 1

    Grind the toasted sesame (opens in a new tab) with the sugar (opens in a new tab) to a fine powder, then mix in the soft lard (opens in a new tab) to a thick paste. Chill 30 minutes, then roll into 20 small balls and keep cold.

  2. Step 2

    Simmer the ginger and brown sugar (opens in a new tab) in 1 litre water for 15 minutes for the syrup.

  3. Step 3

    Stir the warm water into the glutinous rice flour (opens in a new tab) gradually and knead to a smooth dough like soft playdough that doesn't crack.

    If it cracks, knead in a little more water; if sticky, a little more flour.

    Hands kneading dough on a floured surface
    How it looks · Photo: Klaus Nielsen on Pexels

  4. Step 4

    Take a 20 g piece of dough, press into a cup, put in a sesame (opens in a new tab) ball and close it up, rolling smooth between your palms. Repeat. Keep covered so they don't dry.

    • 20 min

  5. Step 5

    Boil the balls in a large pan of water, stirring gently so they don't stick. When they float, cook 2–3 minutes more until soft. Lift into bowls and ladle over the hot ginger syrup.

    Food safety: The filling is molten — let them cool for a minute before biting.

About this dish

Origin
China · Well documentedNorthern China calls the rolled version yuanxiao; tangyuan are wrapped by hand and eaten all over China and the diaspora.Also popular in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, MalaysiaMore food from China
Dish
Dessert · Snack · Desserts · Dumplings
Cooking method
Boiled, Simmered
Taste
nutty, sweet, aromatic / warmly spiced
Diet
No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · No nut ingredients
All labelsNon-vegetarian · Flexitarian-friendly · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · Alcohol-free · Beef-free · Low-sodium · DASH-style
With the listed swaps: Vegan, Plant-based, Vegetarian (lacto-ovo), Eggetarian, Lacto-vegetarian, Ovo-vegetarian, Pescatarian, Pork-freeWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
Good for
Festive & celebration · Freezer-friendly
Cook more with
Glutinous rice flour · Sesame seeds · Sugar · Lard · Fresh ginger · Brown sugar
Techniques
Boiling · Simmering · Kneading

Allergens

  • Contains: Sesamefrom sesame seeds

Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

Nutrition

429 kcal per serving

Estimated

1 serving ≈ 398 g · recipe makes 4

Where the energy comes from

  • Protein 5%
  • Carbohydrate 62%
  • Fat 33%
Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
Energy429 kcal108 kcal
Protein5.8 g1.5 g
Carbohydrate67.2 g16.9 g
Net carbohydrate64.1 g16.1 g
Sugars22.3 g5.6 g
Added sugars22.1 g5.6 g
Fibre3.1 g0.8 g
Fat15.7 g4 g
Saturated fat4.2 g1.1 g
Trans fat——
Cholesterol7 mg2 mg
Sodium12 mg3 mg
Salt equivalent0 g0 g
Vitamins & minerals per serving
Potassium
156 mg
Calcium
192 mg
Iron
2.5 mg
Magnesium
80 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)
0 µg
Vitamin C
0 mg
Vitamin D
0.2 µg
Vitamin B12
0 µg
Folate (DFE)
18 µg

How these numbers were made

  • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
  • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
  • Glutinous rice flour: White rice flour (FDC 169714) used as a stand-in; glutinous rice flour has a near-identical macronutrient profile.
  • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
  • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

Good to know

Storage

  • Freeze uncooked on a tray, then bag, for 1 month; boil from frozen.

Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

Recipe DNA

How this dish is built

Built from the recipe’s own sections. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

What the dish is built around

Main ingredient

Used in step 3

Reviews & corrections

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