Tangyou Guozi (Candied Glutinous Rice Balls)

Tangyou Guozi

　　Tangyou Guozi, a rice-based snack, is characterized by its golden-yellow color, crispy exterior, chewy interior, and sweet, delicious taste. Cooking method: deep-fried. Also known as "Swan Eggs" due to their resemblance, these are a famous Chengdu street food and one of the "Three Delicacies of Qingshiqiao."

　　Tangyou Guozi is made from glutinous rice, brown sugar, and sesame seeds. The glutinous rice dough is deep-fried in oil, then coated with white sesame seeds and skewered on bamboo sticks. A skewer typically has about four or five pieces, each costing around one yuan. Each Tangyou Guozi is perfectly round and glossy, with a brownish-red hue, a caramel-like aroma, and fragrant white sesame on the surface. When you bite into one, the crust is crispy while the inside is soft—some well-fried ones even have a hollow center. The slightly tangy, sticky glutinous rice pairs with the crispy, sweet crust and roasted sesame seeds, creating a flavor that grows on you the more you eat. 3N6

　　How to make Tangyou Guozi: 3N6

　　Mix glutinous rice and regular rice to make a slurry, then add cooked starch and an appropriate amount of alkaline water to form the dough skin. Stuff it with sweet fruit filling and shape it into round balls. 3N6

　　Heat cooking oil, add brown sugar, and once dissolved, add the dough balls. As the oil temperature rises and the balls expand, use medium heat to caramelize and set their shape. Remove and sprinkle with an appropriate amount of roasted sesame seeds to finish. 3N6

　　Key tips: Use a proper mix of glutinous and regular rice; cook over low heat initially, then use medium heat to develop color and shape. 3N6