These tender, glossy Tang Yuan sitting in a shallow pool of fragrant syrup, garnish with a sprinkle of fresh dill. The creamy, deep-purple red bean paste peeking through the translucent rice ball exterior. Beautifully balancing the rustic and the complex, the dish is both visually stunning and palate-engaging.

Dill-infused Tang Yuan with Red Bean Paste

Name: Dill-infused Tang Yuan with Red Bean Paste
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: Fresh dill, 2 tablespoons finely chopped; Glutinous rice flour, 1 cup; Water, 1/2 cup for dough; Red bean paste, 1/2 cup; Raw cane sugar, 1/2 cup; Water, 1 cup for syrup; Osmanthus flowers, 1 tablespoon

Category Dessert

Prep 30 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style Chinese

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Vegan

Daily Recipe: November 30, 2023

This dessert is a time trove of Chinese cuisine, with a delightfully unexpected addition of dill, a spice dually noted for its bright and earthy flavors. The use of dill in desserts can give that pleasantly surprising complexity which combines with other ingredients to create a harmony that is both fresh and grounded.

Ingredients (for 2)

Fresh dill - 2 tablespoons - finely chopped
Glutinous rice flour - 1 cup
Water - 1/2 cup - for dough
Red bean paste - 1/2 cup
Raw cane sugar - 1/2 cup
Water - 1 cup - for syrup
Osmanthus flowers - 1 tablespoon

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍚💦🌿

In a bowl, mix the glutinous rice flour with water until a dough forms. Knead in the finely chopped fresh dill until fully integrated.
Step 2 - 🍙🥢🥡

Divide the dough into 10 even pieces. Flatten each piece, add a spoonful of red bean paste, then gently close the dough to form a ball. Make sure the red bean paste is completely enclosed in the dough.
Step 3 - 💧🍯🌸

In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add in the raw cane sugar and osmanthus flowers. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved to make a fragrant syrup.
Step 4 - 🥘⏲️🥢

In another pot of boiling water, gently drop the Tang Yuan. Cook until they float to the surface, then allow them to simmer for another minute.
Step 5 - 🥣🍵🔥

Carefully drain the Tang Yuan, then place them in bowls. Pour over the Osmanthus syrup. Enjoy it while it's warm.

Additional

Tang Yuan, a classic Chinese dessert, is traditionally eaten during the Lantern Festival. The round shape of the balls symbolizes wholeness and unity. The red bean paste filling symbolizes luck. Feel free to swap out filling for black sesame or peanut. Just remember to chop the dill finely to distribute its flavor evenly.