Sweet Potato Balls

Sweet Potato Balls (Simplified / Traditional Chinese: 地瓜球; Pinyin: Dìguā qiú; also 番薯球) are deep-fried spheres made from sweet-potato mash or sweet-potato starch dough, puffing into light, hollow or airy balls with a crisp shell and soft interior, often rolled in sugar or served plain. They are a Taiwan night-market staple and appear in southern Chinese snack stalls. They are not Taro Ball (芋圆), not pulled-silk sweet potato cubes (拔丝地瓜), and not Malaysian kuih keria doughnuts—though all use sweet potato in different forms.

Characteristics

Golden-brown round balls; exterior crisp, interior stretchy or hollow depending on starch formula. Mild sweet-potato flavor; often lightly sugared.

Ingredients (overview)

Sweet potato and/or sweet-potato starch, water, sugar; oil for frying. Distinct from chewy dessert Taro Ball in syrup.

History and culture

Modern night-market and snack-shop classic in Taiwan; related fried sweet-potato balls appear across southern Chinese snack cultures. Soft claims of a single inventor shop are commercial folklore. English menus say "sweet potato balls" or "deep-fried sweet potato balls." See Taiwan Food.

Serving and variations

Night-market snack bag; dessert fry stall. See Taiwan Food, Taro Ball, and Sesame Ball.

See also

• Taiwan Food
• Taro Ball
• Sesame Ball
• List of dishes (A-Z)