December 4th, 2009Glutinous rice balls remind me of home
If you know me well enough, then you should have been able to guess that I’ll be writing about food. :laughing:
What I like to eat when I’m feeling hungry late at night or early in the morning:
Glutinous rice balls! They are called tāng yuán (汤圆).
(frozen and not yet cooked.)
This Chinese dessert is usually served when it is Winter Solstice. (Some information about the celebration of winter solstice here.) It is also eaten during other Chinese festivals to indicate togetherness or reunion. Since it is so easily available at the supermarkets here in Singapore, I eat glutinous rice balls whenever I feel like it. I was also buying glutinous rice balls quite often when I was still in Shanghai. There are many types of fillings available: peanut, red beans, black sesame etc.
I don’t remember if ready-made frozen glutinous rice balls are sold in Mauritius. 
We usually make our own glutinous rice balls at home. :flowers: I miss that . 
I bought those with peanut fillings.
Boiled in water + a few slices of ginger . Most people like to add sugar to the ginger soup but I don’t add sugar if the glutinous rice balls have sweet fillings inside. I only add sugar if I’m having plain glutinous rice balls with no fillings inside.
I like my glutinous rice balls dry but back in Mauritius, mum was telling us to drink the ginger soup. The fact that I don’t drink the ginger soup is also another reason why I don’t add sugar. If you plan to drink the ginger soup, add sugar. 
I don’t really like peanuts but if it is inside glutinous rice balls, then it’s alright. This filling also contains white sesame.
I always feel a bit weird when I eat glutinous rice balls all alone. If I’m going home this December, one of the first things that I’ll do back in Mauritius will be to make glutinous rice balls with my family and eat, sitting at the round dining table. Yes. Let’s not forget the round dining table.
I love glutinous rice balls, they taste great! The sweet filling is the best
BAaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaLLLLLLllllSSSSSSssss!!!
as long as there is no egg in the ingredientz, i’ll eat it and i’ll enjoy it! + i luv peanutZ! i go nutz just eating peanutz! well, i guess i’m already nuts anyway!
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SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM :worried: :faint:
that looks delicious Aline !
Have a nice weekend
I’m happy to see you’re back :love:
I don’t remember ever seeing glutinous rice balls in Mauritius. Does it sound weird if I say it’s the first time I see these? lol
Hehehhe they look like fish balls :faint:
Hey you, boo!!!
I’m currently on vacation and was uber happy to see you back again – so, welcome back. *watching your hair blow in the wind*
Interesting rice balls up there. What are the other fillings available?
I wish your hair and you a fantastic weekend
Me
P.S
When will you be posting updates on Sushi and the hamsters?
Live Long, Blow your hair (warm air + snow FTW!) and Prosper.
@Zhu,
another person who loves glutinous rice balls! hehe
@waz,
no eggs.
Btw, why are you always spamming?
@David,
thanks! Have a nice weekend ! =)
@Angele,
Really???
oh… I often eat glutinous rice balls back in Mauritius but they are always homemade. There’s even a song about glutinous rice balls. Something like “卖汤圆卖汤圆，小二哥的汤圆是圆又圆，一碗汤圆满又满，三毛钱呀买一碗…” . Ah… my childhood days.
Yeah, they really kinda look like fish balls when they are frozen. hehe
@The Hair Admirer,
….. and Sushi……… argh. I miss her. Not sure when I’ll see her again. I’ll post more photos of her soon. 
Other fillings available are red beans, black sesame paste and maybe some others but that’s all I usually buy.
thanks! Hope that you have a fantastic weekend too!
My hamsters from my Shanghai days are resting in peace. I think that you weren’t reading my blog back then. The hamsters in the photos I posted months ago are my friend’s hamsters.
Enjoy your vacation! =)
i don’t know…i’m just poking fun at your comment moderation system which always seems to reject me!
SPAM!
Hehe, I admit to buying and eating these at times. Make a change from buying frozen jiaozi for dinner.
@Raymond,
you don’t cook? I miss the food in Shanghai…
I want to eat guotie ! argh.
@waz,
it doesn’t like you.
Me first time seeing these balls also. Where are they available in Mauritius?
@clive,
I’ve been talking to my sis. Apparently, the frozen glutinous rice balls aren’t sold in Mauritius (unlike in China or Singapore… ). It’s a pity.. because I reckon that it’s part of the Chinese culture. I always thought that most of the sino-Mauritians knew about it. Well, since the ready-made glutinous rice balls aren’t sold in Mauritius, people can only make them at home. That’s what my family has been doing. I know other families in Mauritius who also make glutinous rice balls. It’s not difficult.
Been searching on the net on how to prepare the rice balls. Mention is made of glutinous rice flour. By any chance do you know what is the equivalent name in hakka?
Just asked my dad. He said it is the rice (nor mee)we use to make zao sui. The flour is obtained by grinding the rice. Could you please ask your mum about the recipe, or better if you happen to know, please send it to me? My dad said it is very tasty and his mum usually home made. As you said it forms part of the Chinese culture yet when old persons passed away so does the culture.
@clive, Sorry for the late reply. Not sure if you’ve managed to make glutinous rice balls. Let me know.
You don’t have to make the flour yourself. Just buy it at Wah luen hong (not sure about the spelling) or other shops in Chinatown. I made plain glutinous rice balls with sweet potato soup before I went back to Mauritius. Will post the photos soon. You can start by making plain glutinous rice balls with no fillings. Very easy to make. 
Those with fillings are a bit more challenging to make. Haven’t tried yet. Will try to make some at the end of this month. 
You can get glutinous rice flour in Mauritius.