Sweet Potato Balls

4.63 from 35 votes
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Sweet Potato Balls - crispy deep fried sweet potato dough balls coated with sesame seeds. This Malaysian snack is great for afternoon tea.

Sweet potato balls, ready to serve.
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Sweet Potato Balls Recipe

Sweet potato ball is an amazing snack available in Malaysia, in the morning or afternoon market. They are commonly sold by street vendors.

Called “番薯旦” in Chinese, they are made with sweet potatoes, flour and sugar.

They are usually coated with sesame seeds and deep-fried. You can find similar versions in Indonesia and Thailand.

These taste of home sweet treats were my favorite childhood food, ones that I grew up eating. They are great as munchies for breakfast or afternoon tea.

Making them at home brings back lots of sweet childhood memories to me!

Sweet potato balls recipe with mashed sweet potatoes, flour and sugar.

Making these sweet dough balls are very easy. First, boil the sweet potatoes until the inside is cooked through.

Next, peel off the skin and keep the sweet potatoes. Mash and combine well with flour, sugar and water to form a dough.

Roll the dough into balls and coat them with sesame seeds. Deep fry in hot oil until golden brown.

QQ sweet potato balls like Indonesian sweet potato balls and Thai sweet potato balls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of sweet potatoes to use?

As a general rule of thumb, you should use the sweet potatoes with pale yellow color flesh inside. This type of potatoes make the best sweet potato balls. Avoid using orange or purple color sweet potatoes.

Can I use air fryer to make this recipe?

Absolutely. Use air fryer to make healthy sweet potato balls that are not deep-fried. Just follow the method in the recipe card and fry in an air fryer. However, you can’t oven baked.

How many calories per serving?

This recipe is only 264 calories per serving.

Fried mashed sweet potato balls.

What To Serve With Sweet Potato Balls

Deep fried sweet potato balls.

Serve them as appetizers or snacks, with other Malaysian sweet or savory treats.

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4.63 from 35 votes

Sweet Potato Balls

Sweet Potato Balls – crispy fried sweet potato dough balls coated with sesame seeds. This Malaysian snack is great for afternoon tea.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
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Ingredients  

  • 1 lb (500g) sweet potatoes
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons water
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • oil, for deep frying
  • powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions 

  • Boil the sweet potatoes in hot boiling water for 15 minutes, or until the inside is cooked through. Peel the skin off and discard. Smash the sweet potatoes.
    Sweet Potatoes
  • Add the mashed sweet potatoes with flour, sugar, and water to form a dough that is not sticky to the hands.
    Sweet Potato Balls Dough
  • Divide the dough into small, equal portions and roll them into balls. Roll the sweet potato balls with sesame seeds.
    Sweet Potato Balls Dough
  • Heat up a shallow pot with 2-3 inches (5cm-7cm) oil. When the oil is fully heated, deep fry the sweet potato balls until golden brown. Dish out and drain well on paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 4people, Calories: 264kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 64mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 17g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Please rate and comment below!

About Bee Yinn Low

Bee is a recipe developer and best-selling cookbook author, sharing easy, quick, and delicious Asian and American recipes since 2006. With a strong following of almost 2 million fans online, her expertise has been featured in major publications, TV and radio programs, and live cooking demos throughout the United States and Asia.

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40 Comments

  1. Maria Galani says:

    This looks so interesting, but I cannot find the recipe card!!!!!

    1. janellejtan@gmail.com says:

      Hi Maria, thanks for letting me know. The recipe card was accidentally deleted. I have added it back!

  2. Shar from California says:

    Where can I see recipe card? I donโ€™t see on the page :(

    1. janellejtan@gmail.com says:

      Hi Shar, thanks for letting me know. The recipe card was accidentally deleted. I have added it back!

  3. DZ says:

    โ€œSee the recipe card for full information on ingredients.โ€

    I canโ€™t locate said recipe card; help!

    1. janellejtan@gmail.com says:

      Hi DZ, thanks for letting me know. The recipe card was accidentally deleted. I have added it back!

  4. Sabrina says:

    Can these be made ahead and frozen? Thanks!

    1. Bee Yinn Low says:

      Yes.

  5. Sandra says:

    Can I air fry the sweet potato balls instead of frying them?

    1. Rasa Malaysia says:

      You can try.