Ube Sweet Rice Balls with Purple Yam Filling (Gluten Free, Vegan Recipe)

Love ube? Then you'll absolutely love Ube Sweet Rice Balls with Purple Yam Filling! These vibrant and chewy rice balls are not only lovely on the eyes but also loaded with fiber and chewy goodness. It's the perfect gluten-free, vegan-friendly recipe for those who crave a healthy and scrumptious treat. Also, the soft mochi dough used to make these delectable balls is incredibly easy to prepare. With just a few simple steps, you'll be indulging in these delightful treats in no time.

Here's why I love this Ube Sweet Rice Balls Recipe

• no-bake, and so easy to prepare
• only 4 ingredients
• vegan and gluten-free
• high-fiber, so it keeps you fuller longer
• healthier and lower calories than most traditional Sweet Rice Balls recipes

Ingredients Used to Make Ube Sweet Rice Balls

_{**I've linked some of these ingredients to amazon.com to give you an idea of what they are, but you should also be able to find them in your local Asian grocery store (or the natural & organic food section). They are also affiliate links, which means that I earn a commission as an Amazon Associate if you decide to purchase the items. The price will be the same for you, link or no link 🙂}

• Glutinous Rice Flour - this goes by many names. You'll see Glutinous Rice Flour and Mochiko Flour (my favorite brand) in Asian grocery stores, and Sweet White Rice Flour in most other stores. ***Please note that regular white rice flour or brown rice flour is NOT the same thing as glutinous rice flour!!!

• Tapioca flour (flour but also called tapioca starch) - Arrowroot starch and Potato starch can also be used instead. I DO NOT recommend using cornstarch for this recipe.

• Sugar of Choice – I used raw cane sugar in this recipe, but sugar free substitutes such as monk fruit sweetener are perfectly acceptable substitutes. 

• Ube or Purple Yam - you'll need mashed Ube, or purple yam in this recipe. Simply wash and steam the fresh ube (skin on) in a steamer for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick can be easily inserted into the center.

Filling Ingredients

Here's a recipe for how to make the Purple Sweet Potato (Purple Yam) Filling from scratch. You can also use pre-made red bean paste or lotus seed paste to save time 🙂

Step by Step Guide

Ube Sweet Rice Balls Filling Variations

There are many creative filling variations you can explore for Sweet Rice Balls. Here are some ideas to try

FAQ: Do You Need to Fill the Sweet Rice Balls?

Nope, filling Sweet Rice Balls (tang yuan) is completely optional. Sweet Rice Ballscan also be enjoyed as plain glutinous rice balls without any filling. I also like to skewer the sweet rice balls like you would with the Japanese Dango!

How to Store Sweet Rice Balls/ Tang Yuan

• Unfortunately, Sweet Rice Balls have the best texture and flavor when freshly made. But if you have leftovers or want to store them long term, here's what you cand do: arrange the fully cooled Sweet Rice Balls on a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag. When you're ready to eat them, boil them in water or steam them to reheat before serving.

Final Tips

• Proper dough consistency - More water may need to be added depending on the brand of glutinous rice flour you use. The goal is to get a soft and pliable dough that is easy to work with and doesn't crack when shaping. On the other hand, if the dough is too sticky, you can always add more glutinous rice flour to adjust the consistency.
• Preventing dough from drying out - While working with the dough, cover the Sweet Rice Balls dough with a damp cloth or plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. This will make it easier to shape the Sweet Rice Balls and keep the dough moist.
• Filling - Be mindful of the amount of filling you put in each Sweet Rice Ball. Use about 1 teaspoon of filling to avoid overfilling, which could lead to difficulties sealing the dough or the filling leaking out during cooking.

See All My Tang Yuan Recipes (HERE)