Sesame Rice Krispie Treats with Sweet Red Bean
So here’s my question: how do you capture the taste of my favorite Chinese dessert with minimum effort yet with a maximum yield? If you’ve been to dim sum, you’re probably familiar with Fried Sesame Balls (jeen doy). Crisp sesame coated orbs of glutinous rice that are filled with sweet red bean paste. As a kid, I would try to ingest as many as possible at family dim sum. Nowadays, I feign nonchalance but the fervor and devotion is still real. So here’s the answer. I’ve combined Sesame Balls with a decidedly non-Chinese and VERY American sweet— Rice Krispie Treats— for a dessert that’s brimming with crunch, chew and flavor.
Makes approximately 24 squares
INGREDIENTS
6 cups rice krispies
2 cups sweet red bean paste
½ cup white sesame seeds, toasted, plus 2 tbsp extra for sprinkling
1 stick unsalted butter
1 10 oz bag of mini marshmallow
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp kosher salt
METHOD
Grease a 9x13 pan with 2” sides and line with parchment, with overhang on the long sides.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter until nutty and golden brown. Add in vanilla extract, sesame seeds, salt and marshmallows. Remove from heat and stir until combined, add in rice krispies and stir until combined.
Turn on broiler.
Press ½ mixture into pan. Spread red bean paste in an even layer on top using an offset spatula. Spread out remaining half of the mixture and press into even layer. Sprinkle with 2 tbsp sesame seeds. Place under broiler for 2 minutes till top layer is light golden brown.
Cool, cut and serve.