If you are looking for a rich dessert with a variety of ingredients and an appealing crispy fried texture, the method for making Vietnamese Sesame Balls in this article will satisfy your craving for snacks. The crispy outer shell, sweet mung bean filling, and a fragrant layer of white sesame seeds can win over anyone.
Surely, the childhood of every Southern Vietnamese person cannot be without Banh Cam, with its crispy outer layer, fragrant roasted sesame seeds, and rich, flavorful mung bean filling. You can still make Banh Cam at home with simple ingredients and a straightforward recipe, ensuring success on your first try with Food Vietnamese.
A Brief Introduction to Vietnamese Sesame Balls
Banh Cam features an outer shell made from a combination of glutinous rice flour, regular rice flour, and mashed potatoes to enhance its fragrance. Once the dough is prepared, it is shaped into small round balls resembling oranges and then fried until the outer shell turns a uniform golden color and becomes crispy. Due to its shape, it is named “Banh Cam,” which means “orange cake.”
The filling of Banh Cam is a sweet filling made from mashed mung beans. The outer layer is coated with sugar and sesame seeds, which not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also add a fragrant flavor to the cake.
For those who are on a diet or controlling their weight, the energy content provided by a dish is a matter of concern. Accordingly, a small Vietnamese Sesame Ball contains up to 200 calories. If you eat too many, it can easily lead to uncontrolled weight gain. Therefore, to enjoy Vietnamese Sesame Balls as a delicious dessert without gaining weight, you should:
- Avoid eating when hungry to prevent stimulating your appetite, which can lead to uncontrolled eating and high calorie intake, causing obesity.
- Limit yourself to eating 1 to 2 Vietnamese Sesame Balls per week.
- Incorporate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to supplement your body with vitamins and fiber.
- Exercise regularly to maintain a slim figure and a healthy body.
Ingredients Needed to Make Vietnamese Sesame Balls
To prepare a portion of Vietnamese Sesame Balls for 6 people, you should choose the following ingredients:
- 1 potato
- 2 cups glutinous rice flour
- 1 cup rice flour
- Half a cup tapioca starch
- 200g split mung beans
- Half a cup white sesame seeds
- Half a cup sugar
- 260ml cooking oil
Instructions for Making Vietnamese Sesame Balls
Once you have gathered all the ingredients, follow these steps:
Prepare the Ingredients for Vietnamese Sesame Balls
- Clean the potato, then boil or steam it until cooked.
- Peel the potato and mash it with a fork, adding 3 tablespoons of cooking oil.
- Soak the mung beans for about 2 hours to soften them, rinse off the skins, and blend them in a blender with half a cup of water and half a cup of sugar.
Make the Mung Bean Filling
- Put the blended mung beans into a pan and add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil.
- Cook over low heat, stirring frequently until the beans become smooth and no longer stick to the pan, then turn off the heat.
- Once the mung beans have completely cooled, divide them into equal small portions and roll them into balls.
Prepare the Dough for Vietnamese Sesame Balls
- In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of rice flour, 2 cups of glutinous rice flour, and half a cup of tapioca starch, mixing the ingredients well.
- Add the mashed potato to the bowl.
- Gradually pour in 300ml of boiling water, kneading the dough as you go until it forms a smooth, elastic mass that doesn’t stick to your hands. Note that the amount of water needed depends on the absorbency of the flour, so add it slowly. If the dough is dry, add more water and continue kneading until it becomes elastic and non-sticky.
- Divide the dough into two equal parts. Boil one half for about 5 minutes to partially cook the outer layer. Knead the boiled dough together with the raw dough until you achieve a smooth, uniform dough.
Shape and Fry the Vietnamese Sesame Balls
- Take a suitable amount of dough and flatten it.
- Place the mung bean filling in the center, gather the edges of the dough, and roll it into a ball.
- Roll the ball evenly in white sesame seeds, then proceed to fry.
- Pour 200ml of cooking oil into a pan, and heat it until it gently simmers. Fry the balls in the hot oil over low heat. Wait about 15 minutes until the balls are evenly golden brown, then remove them, let the oil drain, and enjoy.
The finished Vietnamese Sesame Ball has a mildly enticing aroma from the white sesame seeds. When you bite into the ball, you’ll notice the crispy outer layer and the soft, sweet, and rich mung bean filling inside. One bite will make you want to take another.
Tips for Choosing Fresh Ingredients
The deliciousness of Vietnamese Sesame Balls depends on the ingredients you choose. Here are some tips to help you successfully make this delightful dessert on your first try:
- Choose fresh split mung beans that are shiny, plump, and have a naturally mild, fragrant aroma. The beans should feel firm and not have a powdery residue. Avoid beans that have an unusual color, show signs of pests or mold, or have an off smell.
- Select fresh, good-quality potatoes that feel heavy and firm, with smooth skins and no signs of mold or pest damage. Avoid potatoes that are wrinkled, soft when squeezed, have black eyes, or are leaking. Steer clear of potatoes that have turned green or sprouted, as they contain toxins harmful to health.
I hope these tips have helped you learn how to make authentic Vietnamese Sesame Balls. In a short amount of time, you can create beautiful and delicious sesame balls to serve as a dessert for your family. Visit Foodvietnamese.com for more cooking tips to diversify and enrich your family’s menu!
