Authentic Taiwanese Fried Sweet Potato Balls with a Perfect Hollow Crunch

Step into the heart of Taiwan’s vibrant night markets with this Authentic Fried Sweet Potato Balls recipe. Known locally as ‘QQ Balls,’ these golden delights are celebrated for their addictive chewy texture and surprisingly hollow centers. Unlike ordinary fritters, the magic of this snack lies in a unique pressing technique during frying that expands the dough into a light, airy sphere with a shattered-glass crispness. With only three simple ingredients—sweet potato, tapioca starch, and sugar—this recipe is naturally vegan and gluten-free, making it a crowd-pleasing treat for everyone. Whether you’re a fan of Asian street food or looking for a fun kitchen project, our professional guide will help you master the ‘press and pop’ method for perfect, bouncy results every time.

Fried Sweet Potato Balls

Fried Sweet Potato Balls are one of the most beloved snacks found in Taiwanese night markets. Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, these bite-sized golden balls are made from just a few ingredients — sweet potatoes, tapioca starch, and sugar — but deliver incredibly addictive texture and flavor.

A favorite among locals and tourists alike, they’re often served hot and puffed, with a satisfying chew that keeps you reaching for more. This homemade version brings that iconic street food experience into your own kitchen with easy-to-follow steps.

Whether you’ve had them in Taiwan or are discovering them for the first time, these sweet potato balls are fun to make and even more fun to eat.

Servings 75 Balls

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Equipment

• Food Steamer
• Stainless Steel Strainer
• Pot

Ingredients

• 350 g sweet potato
• 200 g tapioca starch
• 60 g sugar (Option)

Instructions

• Peel and cube sweet potato on the plate. Steam sweet potato for 10 min until soft. (Note: You can cook sweet potatoes in a food steamer or instant pot.)
  
• Mash the steamed potato with fork or potato masher.
  
• Add tapioca starch and sugar into the mashed sweet potato and continue mix. Mix until a soft dough forms but not sticky.

  (Note: You can only add tapioca due to different varieties of potatoes. Some of sweet potatos taste sweeter, such as purple-skinned sweet potato.)
  
• Divide dough into small portions and roll into a thick strip. Cut the dough into small size and roll into a ball.
  
• Heat the oil until 250°F (120°C)
• Fry sweet potato balls under medium-low fire. Let them sit in the oil for 1~2 min before stirring them. Then stirring and gently press down each ball with wide strainer while frying. Repeat the motion 5~6 times. Sweet potato balls will expand and fried until golden brown.

  (Tip: Pressing down the ball can form the ball chewy and hollow center.)
  
• Remove and set the fried balls on a paper towel or drying rack to remove some of the excess oil.
• Serve the fried sweet potato balls. Finish and enjoy

Calories: 25kcal

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Taiwanese

Keyword: Taiwanese snack, sweet potato recipe, chewy fried snack, night market food, easy fried dessert, Taiwanese Sweet Potato Balls, QQ Ball Recipe, Tapioca Starch Desserts

Cooking & Storage Tips

• The most important step is pressing the balls with a strainer once they start to float. This might feel counterintuitive, but the pressure actually forces the air inside to expand, creating that iconic hollow center. Press, release, and watch them pop back up even larger!
• Best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the fryer, when they’re puffed and crispy. Not recommended for storage, as they lose texture once cooled — make and enjoy immediately!

Tools & equipment you may need

Pots & Pans

Seletion

Steamer

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Last Updated on 2026-04-30