Korean Sweet Chili Cheese Balls
Quick answer
- Total time
- 30 min
- Level
- Medium
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Ingredients
- 7
About this dish
Sweet chili cheese balls are a fried snack made from glutinous rice flour dough mixed with milk, wrapped around mozzarella cubes, shaped into spheres, and deep-fried at 160 degrees Celsius.
Read more
Adding a small amount of baking powder to the dough causes it to puff evenly during frying, creating a thin, crisp crust on the outside while the mozzarella inside melts into a soft, stretchy core. Keeping the oil at a moderate 160 degrees is the critical step, because a higher temperature browns and sets the shell before the cheese inside has had enough time to melt fully. Dipping in sweet chili sauce brings a layer of fruity sweetness and gentle heat over the creamy mozzarella, and the sauce's slight tanginess cuts the fried richness to leave the palate feeling clean. Sealing the seam of each ball tightly when wrapping is important, as any gap will let the melting cheese escape into the oil during frying.
Ingredients
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Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Finish
Mix 180 g glutinous rice flour, 0.5 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 tablespoon sugar.
Reserve 1 tablespoon from the measured 130 ml milk, then add the rest in portions until a soft dough forms.
- 2Finish
Only if the dough cracks, add the reserved milk a little at a time until it feels slightly tacky.
Cover it and rest for 5 minutes so it does not dry out.
- 3Prep
Cut the 140 g mozzarella into small cubes and pat off any surface moisture if needed.
Divide the dough into 20 g portions, then flatten each piece into a small round before filling.
- 4Control
Place a cheese cube in the center and pull the dough up to cover it completely.
Pinch the seam firmly closed, then roll the piece into a smooth ball so melted cheese cannot leak into the oil.
- 5Heat
Heat 700 ml frying oil to 160C and keep the heat at medium low so the crust does not brown too fast.
Add the balls and gently turn them with chopsticks for 4-5 minutes.
- 6Finish
When the outside is evenly puffed and pale golden, lift the balls out and drain off excess oil.
Let them stand for 1 minute so the melted cheese settles, then serve with 4 tablespoons sweet chili sauce.
Practical Cooking Checks
The cues that matter most while cooking.
- Key technique
- Chewy glutinous rice dough wrapped around stretchy mozzarella creates these fried snacks.
- Finish cue
- When the outside is evenly puffed and pale golden, lift the balls out and drain off excess oil.
Troubleshooting While Cooking
Use these adjustments when the food is not behaving as expected.
- If the dough feels dry, adjust it with a little of the measured milk reserved at the start.
Cooking decision evidence
Calculated Charim data and applicable official cooking and food safety guidance.
This recipe
30min, 7 ingredients
Category median
30min, 8 ingredients
Based on 109 recipes
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