The difference between glutinous rice balls and glutinous rice dumplings How to easily distinguish the difference between glutinous rice balls and glutinous rice dumplings

During the Lantern Festival, people in the north eat Yuanxiao (Chinese Yuanxiao), while people in the south eat Tangyuan (Chinese Tangyuan). So, what is the difference between glutinous rice balls and Yuanxiao? Let’s take a look together.

The difference between glutinous rice balls and Yuanxiao

Appearance

Both glutinous rice dumplings and Yuanxiao are made of glutinous rice. Generally, glutinous rice dumplings are larger in size and look very delicate and tender, while Yuanxiao are smaller in size and have a rougher surface, and do not look as white and tender.

taste

Glutinous Rice Balls: Mainly made of black sesame, bean paste, walnut kernels, nuts and date paste. The skin is smooth and the taste is delicate. The moment the glutinous rice ball is bitten, the filling will flow out like quicksand.
Yuanxiao: The main filling is a mixture of white sugar, rose, sesame, red bean paste, osmanthus, walnut kernels and nuts. Yuanxiao tastes coarser than glutinous rice balls, with a chewy skin and a chewy filling. The soup cooked from it is also thicker.

Cooking Method

Glutinous Rice Balls: There are relatively few ways to eat them, most of them are just boiled in water.
Yuanxiao: Yuanxiao can be eaten not only boiled, but also fried, candied, steamed, baked, etc.

Preparation method

Tangyuan: First add water to glutinous rice flour and knead it into a dough (just like kneading dough for dumplings). Use your hands to pinch a small piece of wet dough and squeeze it into a round shape. Pick up a ball of stuffing and place it on the glutinous rice sheet. Use both hands to turn and close the edges to make a glutinous rice ball.
Yuanxiao: First, you need to cut the mixed and solidified stuffing into small pieces, rinse them with water, then throw them into a basket filled with glutinous rice flour and roll them. Then rinse them with water again, and continue to put them back into the basket and roll them. Repeat this several times until the stuffing is covered with glutinous rice flour and rolled into round balls.