Sweet potato balls (地瓜球, dìgua Qiu) is a very popular food, especially in Taiwan Night Market. It is a big thing in Taiwan, simple yet delicious, great as a snack time treat.
Check out our Taiwanese pineapple cake recipe as well.
Tips:
- Fried in medium-low heat to avoid burning. Turn to high heat before removing from oil for non-greasy sweet potato balls.
- Adding more tapioca flour yields crispier crust, but lack in sweet potato flavor. Too much of sweet potato will make the crust soft and shrink when cooled.
Chinese Version: Q彈脆口地瓜球(蕃薯蛋)做法
How to Make Taiwan Sweet Potato Balls | MyKitchen101en
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients:
- 180 g Sweet Potato
- 60 g Tapioca
- 30 g Sugar
- Pinch of Salt
- 1-2 Tbsp Water
Note: Recommended ratio for sweet potato, tapioca and sugar is 6:2:1
Instructions:
1 Peel and cut sweet potato into cubes using a peeler and sharp knife. Steam for 12 minutes until fully cooked.
2 Mash potato into paste, mix with sugar and salt immediately, add in tapioca flour and mix until soft dough is formed while still hot.
3 Add in water gradually, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough reach the consistency of a playdough.
4 Divide dough into small portions, roll into marble-sized balls with your palms.
5 Drop the potato balls into oil when the oil starts to heat up, about 120°C to 130°C. Let it sits in the oil for about 1-2 minutes before stirring them. Use medium-low heat to avoid burning.
6 Continue stirring and gently press down while frying. Sweet potato balls will expand in size. The secret is to gently press until the balls expand, crispy crust will form around the chewy and hollow center.
7 Deep fried to golden perfection, serve fresh and enjoy.
How To Make Taiwan Sweet Potato Balls
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Ingredients
Ratio for sweet potato, tapioca and sugar is 6:2:1
- 180 g sweet potatoes
- 60 g tapioca
- 30 g sugar
- pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Peel and cut sweet potato into cubes using a peeler and sharp knife. Steam for 12 minutes until fully cooked.
- Mash potato into paste, mix with sugar and salt immediately, add in tapioca flour and mix until soft dough is formed while still hot. Add in water gradually, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough reach the consistency of a playdough.
- Divide dough into small portions, roll into marble-sized balls with your palms.
- Drop the potato balls into oil when the oil starts to heat up, about 120°C to 130°C. Let it sits in the oil for about 1-2 minutes before stirring them. Use medium-low heat to avoid burning.
- Continue stirring and gently press down while frying. Sweet potato balls will expand in size. The secret is to gently press until the balls expand, crispy crust will form around the chewy and hollow center.
- Deep fried to golden perfection, serve fresh and enjoy.
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Notes
Nutrition (per serving)
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Just wondering if the oil is not hot enough, wouldn’t the balls soak up lots of oil?
Use medium low heat to fry, turn to high before removing from wok.
Oic, Thanks.
I don’t have tapioca flour, can I replace it using corn flour?
You may use glutinous rice flour, haven’t tried using corn flour.
Can I bake it instead of frying? Thanks
Not sure, haven’t tried.