Chinese Fried Sesame Balls (Jian dui煎堆) & Prosperity Cakes (Fa Gao发糕)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.พ. 2021
- Happy Lunar New Year! Several cultures celebrate it, not just Chinese so shoutout to everyone!
In this video, My grandma "Popo" shows us how to make Chinese Fried Sesame Balls (Jian dui 煎堆) & Prosperity Cakes (Fa Gao 发糕) commonly eaten during Lunar New Year. She said she has not made these in over 10 years, so I'm happy to share it with you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Rough Recipe (my grandma does not measure)
Sesame Balls
Ingredients
1 medium size sweet potato (western or asian varietal)
1/2 cup of sesame seeds
1-1.5 cup glutinous rice flour (+ 1/4 cup to bind the dough if it feels too wet)
5-6 tbsp light brown sugar
Store bought red bean paste (Shirakiku Sweetened Red Bean Paste Koshi An Fine) I like this one
You can also use lotus seed paste or (peanuts, coconut, sugar)
Vegetable Oil or your oil of preference to deep fry.
Procedure:
Cook the sweet potato in water for 15-20 min until soft. For best results, peel the skin, cut 1 sweet potato into large pieces and cook. Then on the table or pan add 1 cup of glutinous rice flour, followed by brown sugar and sweet potato. Add some liquid from the cooked sweet potatoes. Knead the dough until it comes together. After kneading for 1-2 min, if the dough is still really wet, add some more flour. If it's dry, then don't add anymore flour, maybe add another drop of water. It should come together and be slightly damp. Then let the dough sit for at least 30 mins.
After 30 mins, use some more glutinous rice flour to roll out the dough into thin logs. Cut them into sections about 2 inches, then put your desired filling inside. Then close up and roll in sesame seeds. Next, in a large pot get some oil ready for the deep frying. Depending on the size of your pot, you want the oil to cover the sesame balls. Make sure you start your oil on low-medium heat. Drop the balls in and constantly move them around the pan. They should cook for 10-15 min. They will start to puff up and rise to the top. When that happens, still cook them for at least another 5-8min. If the temperature of the oil is too high, they will burn, rise to the top and be raw in the center.
Prosperity Cakes
1.5 cup rice flour
1.5 cup brown sugar syrup
Take either 2 pieces of sugar cane or a 1 cup or light brown sugar and put in a pot of water (about 2 cups) cook until sugar dissolves and set on the side to cool.
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder (make sure it's not expired)
1 tsp vegetable oil
Cupcake tins
Procedure:
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until there are no lumps, it should resemble pancake batter. Then let it rest for 15 min. While that's happening get your steamer and cupcake tins ready. We used little muffin tins and lined them with cupcake paper. Then we poured the batter into each one and steamed them for 15 min. We finished them with toasted sesame seeds.
You can see that they did not rise and were dense because we used old baking powder. Make sure you use fresh baking powder so they rise.
You can leave a message in the comments if you have a question, I will be sure to reply.
Much love from my grandma, my family and I!
Tiktok
www.tiktok.com/@michael.nicas...
IG
/ michael.nicastro
#lunarnewyear #cny #lunarnewyearfoods - บันเทิง
I love those red bean sesame balls 🤤🤤🤤🤤
Your popo is the sweetest!
I love watching the videos of you and your grandma. It brings back so many memories of my childhood. My favorite is the Canto-English. It’s exactly how my grandma used to talk to me.
Thanks Jennie! I hope you and your family are well. Happy New Year!
I’m glad that you spend quality time with your grandmother. Experienced cooks don’t measure because they cook with practice. It’s nice that you stay patient. One day these will be great memories. My mother passed away from cancer when I w
I love you and your Porpor. Your respect and relationship is so precious. It’s a joy to watch and learn Porpor’s cooking and your fidelity to her.
Your popo is so cute. I love that no matter what all grandmas are all the same lol.
Hey Vivian you are absolutely right! No matter the culture. I'm very lucky! Wishing you and your family the best!
Your grandma is very entertaining to watch. Treasure every moment cooking with your grandma.
Thank you! Wishing you the best
How cute n sweet ur grandma is she doesn’t use the measuring cup instead she uses the small bowl 😃thanks for sharing this video
It was so much fun watching you and your Popo and thank you for sharing her recipes. We are starting to lose a lot of these traditional recipes and dishes. I also love you are able to use Chinglese as we used to call it growing up. These are precious memories and it's nice how you are taking advantage of this time with her
Hey, thanks for your comment! It means a lot. I'm happy that now I have a chance to spend time with my grandma and family! When I was younger I did not appreciate it. I feel like my grandma's sense of purpose right now is cooking, it makes her happy. I hope to continue these traditions that's why I want to film them and share. Wish you and your family the best.
@@MichaelNicastro - that's great that you are going to continue these traditions. Video is such a great way to capture these recipes as many times like your Popo there are no specific measurements ;)! My parents used to own a restaurant and my dad passed away last fall but I had thought about compiling a recipe book - is that something that you had considered? Wishing you and your family all the best!
I love your interactions with your Grandma. You are always so sweet and respectful to her. She's fiesty!
Ayayay! We use to live with Chinese Cantonese mother in law. She loves to cook like your grandma. I have to watch her cooking otherwise she told me someday I'm gonna do all the works. Lol! I did listen to her now everyone wants to come to my house for chinese new year. Lol!😊
Yay! PoPo came out of winter hibernation to share treasured CNY treats! Michael, thank you for showcasing lost traditions that were important to my mom, who used to haul bags of special ingredients from Chinatown, on myriad crowded Muni bus trips, in preparation for the most important holiday of the year.
Brings back a flood of memories! On new year's eve, my family always lit up every light in our heatless third floor walk-up flat all thru the night to welcome the new year. I was extra careful not to drop my chopsticks and not say anything negative in fear of being scolded.
Hey Nancy wow I can feel the emotion in your story. This makes new year even more special no matter the circumstance. Yes Popo came out of hibernation I’m lucky. I wish you and your family health, wealth and happiness happy new year
I love this video because of the genuine warmth between you and your grandma. It is heart warming. These are special moments. 😊More young people need to be in the kitchen with there grandparents. Not everyone prepares sesame seed balls the same and your grandma is absolutely right when using steam compared to gas for cooking food. I use both steam and electric. Gas makes me sneeze and I stopped using it 10 years ago. I didn't know about the red bean paste that the moisture is removed. I hope I can find the same packet in a local Korean store. What is the companies name that makes this paste? I notice the Korean people do not use red bean paste, they use a red yam. I do not like it. Red bean is so delicious and it is versatile. In my home town of southern Kerala, India we make Green Mung Bean soup and it is extremely healthy. We also make desserts too from the mung bean. I am new to your channel and I love to cook. I will make these delicious Sesame Seed balls. Everyday I make Sesame Seed Porridge and it is delicious. Thanks so much for producing this amazing video. Can you kindly accept a virtual hug from me? Keep on cherishing your beautiful grandma.😊😇😇😇🥰🥰🥰💖💖💖💖
Thank you so much for your heart felt message! Yes everybody and every culture can relate to the warmth and the feeling of life. Thank you for sharing with me some of your culture! Green mung bean soup sounds amazing and healthy. India has such a rich food culture and traditions which I'm so fascinated by. Thank you so much. All the best to you and your family. Thank you for your support. Sending you love and light - Michael
Your Popo is adorable and seems fun. It's nice to see people keep their cultural traditions alive.
Thank you for your support. Wish you and your family well!
Please tell Porpor a big 謝謝 for showing this sweet potato dough. I've been trying to get my Toisan friends grandmas to share the recipe. Toisanese people makes it with a sesame peanut sugar filling. soo good
Of course! Yes I'm grateful that she showed me too. That sounds good I need to learn these special recipes. Happy New Year! Sending you good vibes.
@@MichaelNicastro 新年快樂 to you & your family
@@chefcscreations 新年快乐to you too!
We will definitely try on this. Thanks grandma😊
Great, enjoy every day like it's new years!
great video Michael
Thanks Kenneth, all the best to you and your family!
My mother used to make something very similar for new years. Sweet potato wrapper but inside was coconut and sugar. Then fried. She called them "tee doy". Ask your Po if she ever heard of them.
Ahhh yes that's how you say it in Toisan I think! My popo and mom were saying that. Yeah off camera another time we made coconut and sugar and some with peanut and some with lotus paste. Happy New Year Susan.
lunary new year treats look gooood!
Thanks! Happy new year! Wishing you and your family the best
i just came upon your youtube channel. I am half chinese/half english. I lived with my Popo and Gung Gung when I was young and living in Hawaii. I loved to see the closeness you have to your Popo. You are lucky that you can speak and understand her. That is something that I regret not having with my Grandparents. I am looking for traditional recipes since I moved away from Hawaii. Tough to find traditional chinese food where I live now. Thank you for sharing your special relationship with your Popo!
Thank you, Yeah I'm on a journey to learn more too. When I was younger, I did not appreciate it, now I'm lucky I have a chance to learn and share this with good people like you. Check out Made with Lau on TH-cam too, they provide really good explanations and deep dives in culture.
All the best, Michael
PO PO SO KAWAII////❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Really enjoy these videos ! great memories with your popo. Keep it up
Thanks Samantha for your kind words. Hope all is well with you. Happy New Year to you and your family!
Your Grandma is freaking amazing! So wholesome!
Thank you sending you good vibes!
I love watching you and your grandmother. She is so adorable and you are so sweet and patient with her.
Thank you, wish you and your family well!
Wishing you and PoPo a wonderful year of the Ox!
Thanks Rebecca Happy New Year to you and your family too! Health, wealth, and happiness!
Thank you! I enjoy watching you in the kitchen with your PoPo...she’s adorable❤️ And thanks for the recipes!
Thanks Karen, I'm happy that you like the videos. Again Happy New Year! ;-)
My favorite when I want dim sum! Happy Lunar new year 🧧 to you and especially Grandma 👵
Thank you, All the best to you and your family as well!
Thank you for all the precious and meaningful videos with por por! God bless your beautiful family! :-)
Appreciate you. Wish you and your family well!
Thank you for sharing this recipe I'm happy have english complete ingredients and procedure hope more chinese food you share❤️
Thank you! You are welcome!
Happy Year of the Ox to you and your family, especially your PoPo. You and she make a great team! Sesame balls and prosperity cakes are both new year's favorites, excellent demo choice 👍. Thank you for continuing to cook together and for making these wonderful videos!
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Hey thank you sue! Happy New Year to you and your family as well! I appreciate your support. Sometimes I think what's the point of posting the video. But I'm happy that it can illicit good memories and feelings for people. Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Makes me miss my grandma
Sending you good energy
Luv those sesame balls your grandmas is lovely your so nice to do this with her learn as much this is a special time wish I had a grandma
Sending you good energy and positivity.
Almost Lunar New Year again, so perfect time to try these recipes out myself! I found you through the Hoisan FB group :-D I've never seen sweet potato in a Jeen Dui dough recipe, but it sounds delightful so I'll try her way. I love watching the interaction between you and your poh-poh, and listening to your dialogue. It cracked me up the way she measures stuff as I had to guestimate quantities whenever my parents cook too- everything is measured with rice bowls! A lot of time with my Hoisan dad (who is no longer here) was spent watching him cook/learning his techniques, and it's wonderful to see your curiosity and cultural interest. Thank you for keeping it real and please keep it up!
Thanks for your support! Yes I enjoy that group and I showed my Popo. I feel like they just cook with love and measurements are not important. Anyways wish you and your family abundance in the new year and lunar new year.
Happy new year bro
Thanks Happy New Year man!
Michael, I did as u asked. Liked, comment & subscribe. I think u r doing a really good thing. Lucky, u have a grandma who knows how to make all Cantonese food. She is smart.
Ur very smart, Michael. U understand when ur gmother teaching u Chinese cooking!
Thanks Mary, I know realize that the time that I spend with her is important :). Wish you and your family well.
Wow PoPo you can speak English very well 👍 . I love your cooking .. 🥰
She can speak english very well, better than my cantonese. Thank you for your support!
enjoyed this one too. Gong Hay Fat Choy. We always buy jeen dui at the chinese supermarket or bakery. Never seen it with sweet potato although we eat lots of korean yam cooked in air fryer.
I'll have to try that Korean yam in air fryer
@@MichaelNicastro we buy the 10 pound box from korean supermarket. Comes from California. About 8 korean yams in air fryer for about 20 minutes. We just scrub them and leave skins on.
Michael;
Ur gmother loves u, but ur very respectful to her too! She always cooks specially 4 u! Ur her gSon!
my grandma has the same exact kitchen ware your PoPo has. Watching this video was like sitting in her kitchen again.
Wow that's a very special feeling. I wish you and your family the best!
Classic PoPo answer: “Sometimes”
This true lol
Wow, Michael! Ur Amazing, I didn’t u were so smart in the culinary arts! I am still on ur 30th bday video! Ur parents ate ur good w/o critical comments, it must have been very good! I am impressed! See, ur young so u can do all that w/o tiring out! Happy, happy bday! U have had a good upbringing!
Thank you Mary! Sending you and your family positivity and love.
Your Por Por reminds me so much of my mom. She spent days cooking yummy desserts for CNY. Like your Por Por she use to keep her pots in the oven too 😆. Happy New Year!
That's so special! I'm sure she did not precisely measure, she just felt it. Happy New Year to you and your family! Thanks for your comment. Did your mom cook any other Chinese desserts?
@@MichaelNicastro Definitely a New Years staple my mom made was Cantonese Sweet Fried Dumplings - Gok Zai / Yau Gok (角仔/油角)
@@senneymark4096 Yes I know those! They look like empanadas. I have to make them with popo.
@@senneymark4096 just finished eating gok jai with my wife. My wife always talks of spending all new year's eve chopping the peanuts and making them with her mom
Damn these look so good
Thank you!
Oops, it sent before I finished. Anyway, I wish I had time with her like you have with your grandmother. I am of Chinese decent so I can relate. Tell your grandmother “thank you”for sharing.
I'm sorry to hear that! Happy Lunar New Year! You make me even more grateful. I totally agree with you about very experienced cooks, they tend to avoid what's in front of them. I tell her all the time. It's a process of filming with her. She does not wait for anyone lol. But I can go back and appreciate it. Also, I taught her how to watch youtube, so she watches alot of cantonese cooking videos :). All the best to you and your family
love pho2.. come from tiktok
Thank you
and keep up the family cooking videos. Am sure your popo and mom are delighted that you take interest in traditional cooking. A lot of home cooking is lost now because the kids are not interested in learning or find easier just buying at store bakery restaurant but many times not as good as home made. Wish i had learnt to make dim sum from my dad who cooked jee cherng fun or rice rolls. Also steamed dumplings.
I hear you! Yeah I realize it's not too late to learn and I'm lucky
新年快乐啊 Michael. Nice tradition~
My mom told me that when they were kids, they all made 煎堆 and gave them as a gift when they visited ppl during new year. Now we just buy some daan gyun or cookies.
I see the traditions change over the years. In overseas Chinese communities some things don't change, like frozen in time :-).
Also, if anyone is interested in some fun Cantonese/Mandarin lessons Check out Gloria's youtube channel (Dope Chinese) above. It's also great to watch with your children so they can learn! I wish I learned more Cantonese when I was younger :(. Now I talk to my popo and practice. Gloria's videos help me a lot!
Michael Nicastro That's nice. haha I hope you got lots of lucky money this year 🧧🧧🧧
Michael Nicastro Thank you so much, Michael. 😘😘😘We should definite make a zoom video together soon. Let me brainstorm a little bit. 🤯 hahha
@@DopeCantonese Haha thanks you too
Hahaha...I love your Poh Poh's stubborness! "MMm duk ah!!" Hahahaha!!! Hoisan food is Hoisan Love ;)
Hoisan love Happy Holidays to you and your family sending you good vibes. Have you seen this video where I try to speak Hoisan. th-cam.com/video/BpBsZMMuRcs/w-d-xo.html
@@MichaelNicastro Too funny!! Hiang hoy neigh!!
@@MichaelNicastro Too funny! My mom loved it too!! You did very very well!
@@winane Haha its cool I try to learn more. My mom speaks Toisan better than Cantonese
@@MichaelNicastro I sent you a message on FB messenger. Your mom speaks Hoisan wah well!
Those fried sesame balls look delish. Happy New Year to you and your family!
Thanks Crissey, Happy new yer to you and your family too!
Typical Popo .... cute!
She is the best. Wish you well
Where's the video where u made bbq pork buns? I saw a glimpse of buns on kitchen counter.
Hey Josie, I think that video is on our tiktok. www.tiktok.com/@michael.nicastro?lang=en
The "faat" in "faat go" has two meanings, leavening and getting rich.
Thank you!
婆婆可好？
Is this the first time you saw your grandma making Chinese New Year food?
Hey Winnie, first time she made these desserts. She usually makes a CNY dinner every-year! Hope you had a nice celebration.
@@MichaelNicastro usually during CNY, my mom cook, and my siblings came home to celebrate and eat dinner together. But I did have a fun celebration with my siblings, nephews and niece.
lol 😂 don’t tell grandma what to do that’s y she’s yelling at u
grandma so small ball wasting time