These air fryer black sesame balls are inspired by classic fried sesame ball dimsum (煎堆) with a crispy sesame crust and rich mochi texture inside.

what is crispy black sesame balls?

If you’ve ever had fried sesame balls (煎堆, zeen dui in Cantonese) at dim sum, which are those crispy, golden sesame balls with a chewy mochi centre and a lotus paste filling, you already know how addictive they are.

This is my twist on the classic, which uses rich, nutty and earthy black sesame filling instead of lotus paste. I’m also using an air fryer instead of deep-frying, which is way easier to make at home!

what is the texture like?

Outside: Crispy and golden from the toasted sesame coating
Middle: That signature mochi chew
Inside: Creamy black sesame paste with a roasted and nutty finish

what you’ll need

Black sesame filling:

90g black sesame seeds
4 tbsp honey
2 tbsp vegetable oil

Mochi dough:

130g glutinous rice flour
100g boiling water (little less than 1/2 cup)
40g white sugar
50g white sesame seeds
1 tsp vegetable oil

how to make crispy black sesame balls

Add the black sesame seeds to a dry pan over medium heat. Toast for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly with a spatula to prevent burning. Once they smell fragrant and nutty, remove from heat and let them cool completely.
While the black sesame seeds are cooling, prepare your mochi dough. In a mixing bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour, sugar, and boiling water. Stir until a dough forms. Let it cool for a few minutes until it’s safe to touch, then add the teaspoon of oil and knead with your hands until smooth and well combined.
Once the toasted black sesame seeds are cool, grind them in a coffee grinder or food processor until fine. Add the honey and oil, and mix until it becomes a sticky, paste-like dough.
Divide both the mochi dough and black sesame filling into 6 equal portions. Flatten one piece of mochi dough in your hand, place a ball of black sesame filling in the centre, and carefully wrap the dough around it. Pinch to seal completely. Repeat for the rest.
Lightly wet the surface of each ball with water so the coating sticks better. Roll each one in white sesame seeds until fully coated.
Place the balls in the air fryer basket and spray all sides lightly with oil. First, air fry at 80°C (176°F) for 15 minutes to allow the mochi to gently cook through. Then increase the temperature to 170°C (338°F) and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the outside turns golden and crispy.
Let the sesame balls cool for about 10 minutes before eating. The filling will be hot and slightly molten inside. Enjoy!

tips for making the best black sesame balls

Don’t grind the black sesame seeds while they’re still hot. You want the filling to be thick and scoopable, not runny. Let the seeds cool completely before grinding.
When wrapping the mochi dough around the filling, make sure to seal it completely. The black sesame paste melts during air frying and can leak out if not properly closed.
Lightly wet each ball with water before rolling in white sesame seeds. This helps the seeds stick better and gives you a nice even coating.

check out more of my dessert recipes!