Description
Delicious and crispy shrimp balls made with fresh shrimp, breadcrumbs, and aromatic seasonings, fried to golden perfection and perfect as an appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for binding)
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Chop the Shrimp: Roughly chop the raw shrimp into small pieces or pulse them in a food processor for a finer texture, being careful not to overprocess.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the chopped shrimp, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper. Add cornstarch if the mixture feels too loose to bind.
- Form the Balls: Wet your hands slightly and roll the mixture into small balls about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter, yielding around 20-25 shrimp balls.
- Heat the Oil: In a large frying pan or skillet, heat enough vegetable oil over medium-high heat to cover the bottom of the pan for frying.
- Fry the Shrimp Balls: Place the shrimp balls carefully into the hot oil, avoiding overcrowding. Fry for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
- Drain Excess Oil: Remove the fried shrimp balls and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil.
- Serve: Garnish with extra chopped cilantro or sesame seeds if desired, and serve immediately with a dipping sauce such as sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, or lemon aioli.
Notes
- To achieve a finer texture, use a food processor to pulse shrimp but avoid overprocessing to maintain some texture.
- If the mixture is too wet, add extra breadcrumbs or cornstarch to help bind the shrimp balls.
- Ensure oil is hot enough before frying to avoid soggy shrimp balls.
- Cook shrimp balls in batches to prevent overcrowding and ensure even cooking.
- For gluten-free version, substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce for added flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
