Zao Juanguo (Sweet Rolled Fruit)

Zao Juanguo, also known as Tang Juanguo, is a classic Beijing snack primarily made from Chinese yam and red dates. It is commonly available at snack shops such as Longfusi, Huguosi, and Nanlaishun.
Key ingredients include 250g Chinese yam, 150g red dates, 50g flour, 20g sugar, with optional sesame and osmanthus. To prepare, peel and finely chop the yam (wear gloves to avoid skin irritation), then pit and dice the dates. Mix the ingredients with flour until the mixture is no longer sticky. Steam the mixture on a damp cloth for 20 minutes.

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After steaming, transfer the mixture to another damp cloth and shape it into a firm 4cm-diameter cylinder. Refrigerate until cooled, then slice into 1.5cm-thick pieces. Pan-fry the slices in hot oil until golden brown, and drain on paper towels.

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For a glazed version, melt sugar in the same pan until dark red, coat the slices lightly, and garnish with sesame seeds. Serve cooled to prevent sticking.

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