Rolling Donkey: A Beijing Snack with Cultural Charm

Today I want to share the delicious donkey rolls. It is a delicacy that can make people feel better. It looks chubby and cute. The rich taste, from the fragrance of soybean powder on the outside, to the sticky glutinous rice in the middle, to the sweet bean paste filling, is a great dessert for all ages.

What is Donkey Roll

Donkey Roll is a traditional Chinese snack. It is mainly made of glutinous rice flour or yellow rice flour. The flour is first steamed, and then the dough is rolled flat on a chopping board sprinkled with soybean flour. The red bean paste filling is made by boiling, grinding and adding sugar, etc. It has a delicate and sweet taste. It is spread in the middle of the dough, then rolled up, and finally cut into small pieces to make Donkey Roll.

It is said that its name is because it is wrapped in soybean flour, just like a small donkey rolling covered with loess. When eating, it has a soft and glutinous taste, the outer layer of soybean flour is rich in bean fragrance, and the sweetness of the red bean paste filling blends with the dough, giving people a full sense of happiness.

Ingredients Needed and Substitutions

To make this delicious donkey roll, we need to prepare the following materials:

Main ingredients:

Soybean: This is the key to making soybean flour. Its unique flavor is the soul of donkey roll.

Flour: Used to mix the batter. After steaming, it becomes a soft and glutinous dough, which is the basis of donkey roll.

Red bean paste: As the filling, its sweetness and delicate taste make donkey roll more tempting.

Supplementary ingredients:

Water: Used to mix flour, control the moisture of the batter, and make the steamed dough softer.

Seasoning:

White sugar: Used to increase sweetness and make the taste of donkey roll richer.

Substitutes:

Soybean substitute: If you run out of soybeans, you can try to use black beans or other beans instead. Although the taste will be different, it is also a new flavor.

Red bean paste substitute: If you don’t have enough red bean paste, you can consider using jujube paste or lotus paste instead. This will change the taste of donkey roll, but it is equally delicious.

Tips for Success

Raw material preparation

Flour: Choose water-ground glutinous rice flour, and uniform yellow rice flour to ensure quality and make the steamed dough have a good taste.

Red beans: Choose plump and fresh red beans, so that the cooked red bean paste filling is fragrant.

Production process

Steaming dough: Steam on medium heat for 15-20 minutes, and use chopsticks to check whether it is steamed to avoid time problems that cause the dough to be soft or raw.

Rolling dough: Sprinkle more soybean flour on the chopping board, and roll the dough with uniform force to ensure consistent thickness, which is conducive to shaping and taste.

Making red bean paste filling: Boil enough red bean water, turn high heat to low heat until soft, and filter the bean skin. Stir to prevent sticking during boiling, and use appropriate amount of sugar and melt evenly.

Operation details

Hygiene: Ensure that the tools and environment are clean to prevent impurities from mixing.

Rolling and cutting: Rolling the dough is important to make the layers clear. The knife should be sharp when cutting, and the incision should be smooth to make the appearance beautiful.