{Photo Friday} Hakka Abacus Seeds - 客家算盘子

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Time flies fast and today it's Friday again where we have another interesting recipe theme for our Photo Friday. Just for a quick introduce, the above Abacus Seeds is one of the Hakka's specialty where the family will get to eat them during special occasions or gatherings. Since olden time till now, the side ingredients have become varied such as minced meat, cuttlefish, mushrooms, dried shrimps, tau kwa(firm beancurd) and etc.

The Abacus seeds are made using yam and tapicoa flour which blends into a dough, cut and made into balls before there are transform into abacus shape like beads. Although the process might be time-consuming but this dish is indeed a very delicious and meaningful traditional Hakka delights.

HAKKA ABACUS SEEDS

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My In-laws' dialect group is Hakka so whenever my mother-in-law comes to visit us, she will always bring some of her special homecook such as Hakka Abacus Seeds(客家算盘子), Hakka Yong Tau Foo(客家釀豆腐) and Hakka Mei Cai Kou Rou(梅菜扣肉). Although she did not teach me this dish through hands-on but I have seen her making this and roughly through her estimation ingredients I came out with my own version of this Hakka Abacus Seeds.

(Serves: 4 | Preparation: 40 minutes | Cooking: 15 minutes)

Abacus Seeds Ingredients:
300g Yam, cut into small slices
100g - 150g Tapioca Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
A Pot Of Ice Water

Ingredients For Side Fillings:

300g Pork Mince/Belly Pork
2 Pieces Of Small Firm Beancurds, cubes
4 Shiitake Mushrooms, sliced
50g Black Fungs, soaked till soften
50g Dried Shrimps, soaked till soften
5 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped
4 Shallots, finely sliced
Sauce:
100ml Of Water, from soaking mushroom
1/2 Teaspoon Chicken Stock Granules
1/2 Teaspoon Dark Soy Sauce
For Garnish:
1 Stalk Spring Onion, finely chopped
3-4 Small Chillies, finely sliced
1 Tablespoon Dried Shallot
Some Pepper

You can refer the steps on making this Hakka Abacus Seeds from one of my existing post HERE.

Abacus Seeds may be customized based on individual's likes and dislike on whether more yam/flour, types of side ingredients, soup or dry version during cooking. No matter which is your preference, this is indeed one of the traditional dish that is worth trying and pass down to the younger generation before it became history.