kids encyclopedia robot

Kai kou xiao facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Yau Gok and Sesame Cookie Balls
Sesame cookie balls (bottom) in Hong Kong.
Quick facts for kids
Kai kou xiao
Type Pastry
Place of origin China
Region or state Beijing
Main ingredients Flour, peanut oil, eggs, sugar, malt sugar, sesame seeds, baking soda

Kai kou xiao (Chinese: 开口笑; pinyin: kāikǒuxiào; literally "open mouth laughing") is a fried sesame egg cake found in Chinese cuisine.

Also called "smiling sesame cookies" or "laughing balls", they are a popular dish during Lunar New Year for their resemblance to a smiling mouth.

Preparation

The traditional culinary method of this dish begins with the preparation of flour, peanut oil, egg, sugar, malt sugar, sesame seeds and baking soda. With the exception of the sesame seeds, everything else is mixed together, and the resulting dough is cut into pieces. The sesame seeds are boiled in water and each small piece of dough is rolled in the sesame seeds. The end result is then fried on a skillet. The chef must lift the frying pan off the stove and put it back on depending on the situation. The resulting opening crack is where the literal name in Chinese comes from, as it resembles a happy smiling mouth.

kids search engine
Kai kou xiao Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.