Khanom nga are crispy balls rolled from a dough made from tapioca flour and self-rising baking powder, and coated with light or a mixture of light and dark sesame seeds.

They are often sold together with khanom kai tao (fig.) and though they are different, they are sometimes referred to by the same name.

Outwardly, they actually more resemble the Chinese candy ma tuan (fig.), and the hollow cavity caused by the expansion of the dough is filled with a sweet bean paste.