Black Sesame Bliss Balls With Black Rice & Black Beans

Q: How long do these bliss balls keep?

Up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge, or up to 1 month in the freezer.

Q: Why fry the black rice and beans first?

Frying dries them out, which gives a firmer ball and a richer, roasted flavour.

Q: How are these different from Chinese black sesame balls?

Chinese black sesame balls are usually glutinous rice flour filled with sweet sesame paste, then boiled or fried. These are no bake bliss balls made with whole black rice and black beans, so they are firmer, less sweet and higher in protein.

Q: Are these bliss balls vegan protein balls?

Yes. There is no dairy, egg or honey, so they are fully vegan. The black beans, sesame seeds, tahini and nuts all add plant protein, without a protein powder.

Q: What makes these bliss balls healthy?

They are built on whole foods: black rice, black beans, sesame seeds, nuts and fruit. The beans, seeds and nuts add protein and fibre, and the only sweetness comes from dates, goji berries and an optional tablespoon of palm sugar or maple syrup.

Black Sesame Bliss Balls With Black Rice & Black Beans.

Healthy, Vegan, And No Bake. With Tahini, Goji Berries, And Dates.

Makes 18 To 20 Balls. Keeps 5 Days In The Fridge.

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Introduction to these healthy bliss balls

These healthy bliss balls are made from black rice, black beans and toasted black sesame seeds, held together with tahini and dates. They’re vegan, gluten free and no bake, and one batch makes 18 to 20 balls. Each ball is rolled in toasted sesame seeds or coconut. They keep for 5 days in the fridge, or a month in the freezer.

Most bliss balls are mostly dates and nuts. These ones are different. The black rice and black beans give them a nutty, roasted taste, and more protein and fibre than most.

I love one with a few pieces of Darwin paw paw and a spoonful of coconut yoghurt. It’s a lovely morning tea, or a quick dessert.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact us. Or chat with me at a Flametree yoga or meditation class via these timetables.

Black sesame bliss balls, rolled and ready

Healthy bliss balls made with black sesame, black rice and black beans, some rolled in coconut

Some rolled in toasted black sesame seeds, some in toasted coconut. Both are delicious!

Ingredients for black sesame bliss balls

Here are the ingredients for this Flametree Yoga Studio treat. It makes about 18 to 20 balls.

1 cup of cooked black rice, completely cooled
1 cup of cooked black beans, rinsed, drained and dried well
½ cup of black sesame seeds
½ cup of shredded or desiccated coconut
½ cup of raw cashews or almonds, roughly chopped
½ cup of dates, finely chopped
⅓ cup of dried goji berries
3 tablespoons of tahini
1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
1 tablespoon of coconut palm sugar or maple syrup (optional)
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of vanilla
A pinch of sea salt
Extra black sesame seeds or coconut, for coating

Black rice and black beans, soaking

Black beans and black rice soaking in water before cooking for bliss balls

Black beans (top) and black rice (bottom), soaking before I cook them. Cook both well ahead, so they’re completely cool.

How to make healthy bliss balls with black sesame

Use these steps to make these black sesame bliss balls.

Step 1: Soak the goji berries

Cover the goji berries with warm water.
Leave them for 10 to 15 minutes, then drain and pat dry.

Step 2: Toast the seeds, coconut and nuts

Heat a large frying pan over low to medium heat.
Dry toast the black sesame seeds for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring all the time, until they smell nutty. Tip them into a bowl.
Dry toast the coconut until lightly golden. Put it in a separate bowl.
Pan fry the chopped nuts for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until lightly roasted.

Step 3: Fry the rice, beans, dates and goji berries

Add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Fry the black rice for 4 to 5 minutes, until it feels a little drier and smells nutty. Put it in a large mixing bowl.
Add another teaspoon of coconut oil. Fry the black beans for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring gently. Lightly crush some of them with the back of a spoon. Add them to the rice.
Add the dates to the pan for 1 to 2 minutes, until soft and sticky.
Add the goji berries for another minute. Take the pan off the heat.

Step 4: Blend, chill and roll

Put the rice, beans, dates, goji berries, nuts, coconut and most of the sesame seeds in a food processor.
Add the tahini, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and the palm sugar or maple syrup if you’re using it.
Pulse until sticky, but still a little chunky. Don’t blend it into a smooth paste.
Press a spoonful together to test it. Too dry? Add a little tahini or coconut oil. Too wet? Add more coconut, nuts or sesame seeds.
Chill the mixture for 30 minutes.
Roll into balls, using about 1 tablespoon of mixture for each.
Roll them in the rest of the toasted sesame seeds, the coconut, or a mix of both.
Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Dry frying the black rice

Cooked black rice frying in a pan until dry and nutty for black sesame bliss balls

Frying the cooked black rice until it’s a little drier. This is the secret to a firm ball with a roasted flavour.

The toasted mix, before blending

Toasted black sesame seeds and coconut mixed in a bowl for date bliss balls

Toasted black sesame seeds and coconut. Keep some aside for rolling the balls.

What makes these bliss balls healthy?

They’re built on whole foods: black rice, black beans, sesame seeds, nuts and fruit. The beans, seeds and nuts add protein and fibre, so one or two balls fill you up. The only sweetness comes from dates, goji berries and, if you like, a tablespoon of palm sugar or maple syrup.

Black sesame seeds are also one of the richest plant sources of calcium. Whole sesame seeds have about 975 mg of calcium in 100 g, according to the USDA FoodData Central database.

How are these different from Chinese black sesame balls?

Chinese black sesame balls are usually made with sticky glutinous rice flour, filled with sweet black sesame paste, then boiled or fried. These are a no bake bliss ball. They use whole black rice and black beans instead of rice flour, so they’re firmer, less sweet, and higher in protein.

Are these bliss balls vegan protein balls?

Yes. There’s no dairy, egg or honey, so they’re fully vegan. The black beans, sesame seeds, tahini and nuts all add plant protein. That makes them a good choice if you want vegan protein balls without a protein powder.

With Darwin paw paw and coconut yoghurt

My favourite way to eat them: with fresh Darwin paw paw and a spoonful of coconut yoghurt.

Healthy bliss balls: quick questions answered

How long do these bliss balls keep?

Up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze them for up to 1 month.

How many does one batch make?

About 18 to 20 balls, using 1 tablespoon of mixture for each.

Why fry the black rice and beans first?

It dries them out. Less moisture gives you a firmer ball and a richer, roasted flavour. Make sure the beans are well drained before they go in the pan.

Can I make them without nuts?

Yes. Leave out the cashews or almonds and add a little more toasted coconut or sesame seeds, so the mixture still holds together.

Are they gluten free?

Yes. Black rice, black beans, seeds, nuts and fruit are all naturally gluten free.

More healthy black rice and paw paw recipes

Love black rice? Try my Indonesian black rice pudding, which I first ate at the Bali retreat, or my black rice noodles with tofu stir fry. For more Darwin paw paw ideas, see my Darwin baked papaya with cinnamon.

Do you have a vegan recipe or dish you’d like to share?

Please contact me with any dishes you’d like to share with me.

Obviously, I’m especially interested in any dish that is already a great Darwin vegan option.

Alternatively, it may be a potential vegan Darwin recipe that I could adapt, or be inspired by, as I did here.

Experience eating alternatives at a Flametree Yoga Retreat

By the way, there are several upcoming Flametree yoga retreats in Bali in 2027.

Contact us for details of our Darwin yoga retreat packages, or our yoga class packages in the orange lines below.

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Meanwhile, start or re-start yoga or meditation with one of the HALF price deals below, or check out the retreat deals.

Learning to eat mindfully, as a result of yoga and pranayama meditation, is a great way to start more of a vegetarian or vegan journey, or simply mindfully eat whatever you choose.