Sesame Sticky Rice Balls

Yield: 10-15 sticky ballsIngredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup boiling water
• 1/2 lb water-ground glutinous rice flour
• 3/4 can red bean paste
• 1/4 cup white sesame seeds
• 4 cups oil

Directions:

1. Measure sugar into a container, then pour hot water over sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. Add sugar-water to rice flour, mix well and knead for 2 minutes, let it rest for 2-3 hours.
2. Roll all of the dough into a uniform cylinder (about 1-inch diameter) and slice into 10-15 roughly equal pieces. In your hands roll each small piece into a round ball and press down to flatten into a round. Place 1 Tbs red bean paste filling onto the center of the round. Close dough round over filling and roll it into a ball. Roll ball over sesame seeds.
3. Heat 4 cups of oil in a wok on medium heat until hot. Place 3 or 4 rice balls in the oil and fry until light brown, then turn up heat to medium high and press rice balls down with a spoon for a second and release. Remove the rice balls with a strainer when they puff up and turn golden brown, and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the rest of the rice balls.