Recipe: Yam abacus seeds

My first time making and eating Hakka Yam Abacus Seeds (客家算盘子). Yes, you got me. I have never eaten this dish before and yet I have the gut to post a recipe on it. :P 

You need just very simple ingredients to prepare the abacus seeds 

Ingredients:

200g yam, peeled and cut into slices

70 tapioca flour

A pinch of salt

Method:

1. Steam the yam for 15 minutes. Remove and mash the yam while it is still hot. 

2. Add tapioca flour and a small pinch of salt to the yam paste, knead to form a dough. 

3. Roll the dough into small balls. To shape them into abacus sead, press the center of each ball with the thumb to make a slight indentation.

4. Cook the abacus seeds in a pot of boiling water until they float to the surface.  Quickly remove the abacus seeds and transfer into a bowl of cold water. Drain well, mix with a little cooking oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.

The seeds after the above method. 

Below is the method to cook the dish itself.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp oil

Diced onions and garlic

50g dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked and shredded

50g black fungus, soaked and shredded

1 tbsp oyster sauce

some coriander leaf 

Method:

1. Heat oil in a wok. Add the onions and garlic and stir fry until fragrant.

2. Add in mushroom and fungus, stir well. Add some water and simmer until the vegetables are cooked.

3. Add in oyster sauce and stir well.

4. Add in the abacus seeds, simmer for 1-2 minutes till the sauce thickens.

5. Dish and top with some coriander leaf. 

This is a meatless version, alternatively you may add in some minced meat as well. :) 

It was so good! I guess because I love yam. Haha! Try this if you love yam as well! I'm actually thinking of making a pumpkin abacus seeds next time. Heh heh. :D 

Thank you smallsmallbaker for the recipe. :)

.xoxo.

Lirong.