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Level 4 Puréed
Prep: 25 min Difficulty: Easy Main ingredient: sesame
#level-4#tangyuan#winter-solstice#festive#sesame-paste#peanut#cantonese#hong-kong#smooth-puree#sweet

Winter Solstice Tangyuan Filling Puree | IDDSI Level 4 Recipe

IDDSI Level 4 (Pureed) | 25 minutes | Easy

Winter Solstice (冬至, Dung Ji) is observed on or around 22 December each year and is considered by many Cantonese people to be as important as Lunar New Year — the saying goes “冬大過年” (“Winter Solstice is bigger than New Year”). The signature food is tangyuan (湯圓) — glutinous rice balls with sweet fillings such as sesame paste or peanut butter, served in a sweet ginger or osmanthus broth. Traditional tangyuan are among the most dangerous foods for dysphagia — the glutinous rice ball exterior is dense and sticky, and the filling is concentrated inside, requiring chewing to access. This adaptation extracts the essence of tangyuan as a sensory experience: the sesame or peanut filling is prepared as a smooth, flowing Level 4 puree, served in a warm, lightly sweetened ginger broth, capturing the flavour identity of the festival food in a completely safe format.

Ingredients (3–4 servings)

Sesame filling puree:

Sweet ginger broth:

Method

  1. Prepare the sweet ginger broth: Combine water, rock sugar, ginger slices and pandan leaf (if using) in a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes to infuse. Remove ginger and pandan. Add osmanthus syrup if substituting.
  2. Make the sesame/peanut puree: Combine black sesame paste (or peanut butter) with sugar. Add warm milk or water gradually, stirring until a smooth, flowing puree forms. The puree should flow slowly off a tilted spoon without pooling instantly.
  3. If the paste is grainy, blend with an immersion blender for 1 minute until completely smooth.
  4. Pass through a fine mesh sieve for Level 4 compliance — no graininess permitted.
  5. Gently warm the puree by placing the bowl over a pot of simmering water (bain-marie), or briefly microwave and stir.
  6. For Level 4 serving: ladle the warm sweet ginger broth into a bowl. Spoon the warm sesame/peanut puree alongside or into the broth, creating the visual suggestion of tangyuan filling floating in broth. The broth and puree can be gently swirled together or eaten separately.

Texture Test

Level 4 puree test: The sesame/peanut puree flows slowly and continuously off a tilted spoon; it is completely smooth with zero graininess; it cannot be scooped into a ball that holds its shape; it levels to a flat surface within 3 seconds.

Broth check: The sweet ginger broth is thin and flows freely — it is more liquid than the puree, at Level 2–3 consistency. Residents who need Level 4 throughout should stir the puree into the broth completely to create a uniformly thickened Level 4 preparation, or use a commercial starch thickener in the broth.

Safety Notes

⚠️ Never serve traditional whole tangyuan — the sticky glutinous rice ball exterior is one of the highest choking-risk foods. Only the filling puree is served in this adaptation.

⚠️ Sesame paste graininess — black sesame paste can be grainy if not fully processed. Ensure complete smoothness by blending and sieving.

⚠️ Peanut allergy — peanut butter is a major allergen; always check resident allergy records. Use sesame paste version for residents with peanut allergy (check for sesame allergy separately).

⚠️ Broth consistency — the sweet ginger broth is thin (Level 2–3). For residents requiring Level 4 throughout, thicken the broth with a commercial starch thickener to Level 4 before serving.

⚠️ Sugar content — this preparation is sweet. For diabetic residents, reduce sugar significantly or use a sugar-free sweetener.

Sourcing Outside Hong Kong

For international care kitchens and home cooks outside Hong Kong, Cantonese ingredients are widely available at East and Southeast Asian grocery stores:

White and black sesame seeds, sesame paste (芝麻醬): East Asian and Middle Eastern grocers; Wing Yip, H Mart, T&T, and most Chinese supermarkets.

If a specific ingredient is unavailable in your region, the recipe notes alternative substitutions in the Ingredients section. For dishes requiring fresh Cantonese-specific ingredients (e.g. preserved century egg, fresh rice noodle rolls), check with your local East Asian grocer before substituting — texture compliance for IDDSI levels may require specific products.

Nutrition

Approximately 280 kcal per serving (about 200ml total with broth), 6g protein, 14g fat. Black sesame paste is exceptionally high in calcium (one of the highest plant-based calcium sources available), magnesium and healthy unsaturated fats. Important for elderly residents at risk of osteoporosis. Peanut butter provides protein, vitamin E and niacin.

Cultural Note

Winter Solstice (冬至) is the most important family gathering day in Cantonese culture — the saying “冬大過年” reflects how seriously the festival is taken in Hong Kong. Families gather for reunion dinners, and eating tangyuan (湯圓) is the central ritual — the round shape symbolises family unity and wholeness (圓圓滿滿). The black sesame filling in particular is one of the most beloved flavours in Hong Kong’s traditional sweet food repertoire. Offering this pureed version at the care home Winter Solstice celebration ensures that residents with dysphagia can participate fully in the family reunion ritual and experience the iconic flavour of tangyuan in a completely safe form.

⚠️ This recipe is for reference only. Texture varies by technique and ingredients. A speech therapist should confirm the appropriate IDDSI level.
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