[Free Pattern] Ondeh Ondeh Amigurumi Crochet Pattern・钩针编织椰丝糯米球

Sometime back, I posted Part 1 of my local kueh amigurumi project, which began with the ondeh ondeh, or klepon in Indonesia. Anything about kueh in our regional cuisines would be remiss if it didn't include this sweet treat. This amigurumi version is nowhere close to replicating the delicious ondeh ondeh, but it does have one advantage: zero calories! Plus it's very, very easy to make. Read on for more about the ondeh ondeh or skip to the pattern.

Ondeh ondeh amigurumi, from Part 1 of my local kueh amigurumi project (on IG).

As mentioned in Part 1, ondeh ondeh is a small, bite-sized ball with a soft, chewy skin made of glutinous rice flour and/or sweet potato that is infused with pandan, wrapped around a filling of molten gula melaka, and coated with grated coconut. This kueh is Javanese in origin, but in Indonesia, it is called klepon. Onde onde in Indonesia refers to something different, the Chinese sesame ball pastry we call jian dui煎䭔. It is also called buah melaka in Malaysia, which literally means "Melaka fruit" or "fruit [of] Melaka", probably due to its resemblance to the actual fruit of the Indian gooseberry, aka Malacca tree.

Ondeh ondeh's classic flavour combination is such a firm favourite in Singapore (and our neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia) that we use it in all sorts of desserts, not just traditional chendol and our nationally beloved pandan chiffon cake...but also all kinds of cakes, waffles, pancakes, ice cream, and even churros, prata, and mooncakes. But it's not just the flavours and texture that make ondeh ondeh delicious and addictive. It's also the satisfying burst of flavour when one bites into it, that explosion of the liquid gula melaka, the burst of aroma and flavour.... This isn't something that can be well expressed in words. That said, other variations exist too, like with purple sweet potato, and even blue pea flower with durian.

Ondeh ondeh amigurumi, from Part 1 of my local kueh amigurumi project (IG).

One could say that in this bite-sized kueh is centuries' worth of Southeast Asian culinary heritage. This little sweet ball is the delicious combination of 3 ancient, traditional Southeast Asian ingredients: pandan, coconut, and gula melaka. Technically 2 ingredients, as gula melaka and coconut come from the same plant source. Gula melaka is a palm sugar that is made by caramelising the sap of the budding flowers of the coconut palm. (Or less commonly, from other palms, such as the sago palm or nipa palm.) Since ancient times, coconut and pandan have been cultivated in, and used in the cuisines of Southeast Asia. Pandan is so ubiquitous here that it's a common home garden plant. My in-laws have a few pandan plants that we regularly cut for cooking or just to scent our wardrobes. Gula melaka too has also been used in the cuisines of our region for a very long time. Here, we generally consider gula melaka to have greater aroma and depth of flavour than cane sugar.

Okay! So now that my ode to ondeh ondeh is over...... Without further ado, below is the pattern for my ondeh ondeh amigurumi.

ONDEH ONDEH AMIGURUMI CROCHET PATTERN

Ondeh ondeh amigurumi, from Part 1 of my local kueh amigurumi project(IG).

Materials & Tools:

• Yarn in white, green, brown
Here I used Schachenmayr Catania No.418 Greenery, Sirdar Cotton DK No.51 Island White, and Scheepjes Catona No.383 Ginger Gold. In retrospect, using a darker brown, like Scheepjes Catona No.157 Root Beer, would be more suitable to replicate the dark brown of gula melaka.
• 3mm crochet hook
• Stuffing
• Stitch marker
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

Abbreviations (US terms):

R : round / row (as the case may be)
MR : magic ring
ch : chain
sl st : slip stitch
st(s) : stitch(es)
sc : single crochet
hdc : half double crochet
dc : double crochet
inc : increase
dec : decrease / invisible decrease
(...) : a set of pattern instructions
[...] : total number of sts in the round / row

Finished Size (Aprox.):

Whole: 3cm diameter
Half-eaten: 3cm diameter × 2.7cm height
Half-eaten (revised pattern): 3cm diameter × 2.7cm height

Pattern Notes:

• This amigurumi requires white and green blended yarn strand. So, first make the blended yarn strand: divide the white yarn in half (if using fingering or sports weight yarn), then combine it with the green yarn. Alternatively, use lace weight yarn or embroidery floss (e.g. DMC 25 Stranded Cotton), in which case, there is no need to divide it before combining with the green yarn. I thought using a fuzzy/eyelash yarn might better simulate the appearance of the shredded coconut on the ondeh ondeh, but I have yet to test this out.
• This amigurumi is worked in rounds. I worked in a continuous spiral, but it can also be worked in closed rounds.
• For how to do the invisible decrease, see this tutorial by All About Ami.
• For how to do the invisible join/fasten off, see this tutorial by One Dog Woof.
• Feel free to embroider cute expressions or kaomoji on the ondeh ondeh amigurumi with embroidery floss. I didn't on the ones I made, but I might add some later.

WHOLE BALL

Before beginning, divide the white yarn in half, then combine it with the green yarn. Alternatively, use lace weight yarn or embroidery floss (e.g. DMC 25 Stranded Cotton), in which case, there is no need to divide it before combining with the green yarn.

Using the white and green blended yarn, work in rounds,
R1. MR, 6 sc. [6]
R2. 6 inc. [12]
R3. (1 sc, inc) 6 times. [18]
R4. (2 sc, inc) 6 times. [24]
R5-8 (4 rounds). 24 sc. [24]
R9. (2 sc, dec) 6 times. [18]
Stuff before continuing.
R10. (1 sc, dec) 6 times. [12]
R11. 6 dec. [6]
Finish stuffing, if needed. Fasten off and leave a tail.
Using the yarn tail and a yarn needle, weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts, and pull to close the work. Secure and hide tail.

HALF-EATEN BALL

Skin

Using white and green yarn, work in rounds,
R1. MR, 6 sc. [6]
R2. 6 inc. [12]
R3. (1 sc, inc) 6 times. [18]
R4. (2 sc, inc) 6 times. [24]
R5-8 (4 rounds). 24 sc. [24]
R9. (2 sc, dec) 6 times. [18]
Fasten off invisibly, and hide tail. Do not stuff.

Filling

Using brown yarn, work in rounds,
R1. MR, 6 sc. [6]
R2. 6 inc. [12]
R3. (1 sc, inc) 6 times. [18]
R4-6. (3 rounds) 18 sc. [18]
Stuff before continuing.
R7. (1 sc, dec) 6 times. [12]
R8. 6 dec. [6]
Finish stuffing, if needed. Fasten off and leave a tail.
Using the yarn tail and a yarn needle, weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts, and pull to close the work. Secure and hide tail.

Dribble (optional)

Using brown yarn, ch 6, then starting in the 3rd ch from hook, 2-dc inc, 1 hdc, 2 sc.
Leave a tail for sewing, cut yarn and pull through. With the tail and a yarn needle, attach it to the Filling.

TO COMPLETE

1. To complete the amigurumi, just insert the Filling into the Skin.
2. If desired, embroider the amigurumi with cute expressions or kaomoji using embroidery floss, e.g. DMC 25 stranded cotton. The ideal position for a cute face would be somewhere between Rounds 5 to 8.

Ondeh ondeh amigurumi, from Part 1 of my local kueh amigurumi project (IG). The bowl is a hand painted and etched blown glass bowl by Japanese glass artist Nishiyama Yuki.

Next will be the amigurumi kueh lapis sagu and kueh salat. Since posting Part 1 of this kueh project, I've added variations to these 2 amigurumi kueh and they've been waiting in the wings to make their appearance. Also added a few more kueh types to the project that I hope to share in a Part 2 time to come. Until then....

Have a great week and happy crocheting!

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Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have fun making this crochet ondeh ondeh. As with all my other patterns, I would love to see how your finished items turned out, so please tag me with my Instagram handle @yotsuba_blythes.

While I'm happy to share my pattern without charge and would be delighted to see it being used, please note that my pattern is for personal use only. Please respect my legal and moral rights as the author with respect to this pattern and all the images herein. This pattern and images are not for commercial use, sale or distribution. The sale of this pattern or any of the images is not permitted without my prior written consent. If you wish to share this pattern, please link to this post and my Instagram profile @yotsuba_blythes. You are welcome to sell limited quantities of the finished items you have made from this pattern.