Tang Yuan (Sweet Rice Balls with Black Sesame Filling)

An important and auspicious recipe to make during the Lantern Festival is Tang Yuan (汤圆), or Yuan Xiao (元宵), symbolizing harmony and reunion.

Tang Yuan (Glutinous Rice Balls)

A popular snack all over China, glutinous rice balls (tang yuan) are filled with red bean, sesame, peanut, and other sweet fillings that ooze out from mochi-like dumpling skins.

DIY Sesame Sticks

Requiring no fancy equipment, this recipe couldn't be easier—just toss the ingredients into a bowl and stir up the dough. In this way, the cook also controls the type and amount of fats and seasonings that end up in the finished product, so you can really have some fun with it.

Chinese Sesame Twists (Zha Ma Ye - 炸麻叶) - The Woks of Life

Chinese sesame twists are tasty Chinese New Year snacks that you can serve your family alongside peanuts, roasted seeds and colorful candies.

Taiwanese Deep-Fried Squid Balls

Homemade squid balls that you can literally bounce off the wall.

Steamed Pearl Balls (Zhēnzhū Wánzi 珍珠丸子)

A different style of dumplings, Pearl Balls are steamed dumplings that don't use wrappers but instead feature a coating of sticky rice around the exterior.

Stuffed Chinese Fried Gluten Balls

These Chinese fried gluten balls stuffed with meat and mushrooms are a home-cooked specialty rarely seen in restaurants and usually served on holidays.

Homemade Sweet Sesame Crisps

Is it a cookie? Is it a cracker? hard to say. These homemade crispy, crunchy sesame crisps are found all over Asia, and they're perfect with a cup of coffee or tea!

Chinese Pearl Meatballs with Sticky Rice (珍珠丸子) - The Woks of Life

Pearl Meatballs are a Chinese classic from the Hunan/Hubei region. The name comes from the short grain glutinous rice they're wrapped in. They're an impressive dish for holidays and celebrations––especially Chinese New Year.

How to Make Lotus Seed Paste

Find out how to make authentic lotus seed paste for mooncakes, sesame balls, steamed buns, and other Chinese pastries, using just 4 simple ingredients.