If you love seafood, then shrimp balls are going to be a favorite dish of yours .
They are light and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside and they taste great !.
In addition to being a delicious dish that is easy to prepare , shrimp balls make for a great appetizer when served with a variety of sauces.
Let’s find out how you can cook shrimp balls the easy way with this simple shrimp ball recipe.
What ingredients do you need for a shrimp ball recipe ?
The ingredients in this shrimp ball recipe are fairly simple.
As you might expect, the seafood is really the star here, and shrimp is definitely the main ingredient .
Other ingredients include a small amount of flour, salt, onion powder , garlic powder, parsley, ground black pepper, and mustard.
You also need to have some oil and eggs on hand to make the shrimp balls.
You can use any kind of shrimp for this recipe.
I prefer to use medium shrimp because they generally have the perfect size , shape and texture for making shrimp balls .
What methods can you use to prepare shrimp balls ?
The best way to cook shrimp balls is to use a deep fryer.
Not only will you get the best results , but a deep fryer makes this recipe very easy !
But you don’t have to go out and get a deep fryer to make shrimp balls.
You can also make this dish in the oven.
The oven method is a little bit more work , but you will still be able to cocoon the shrimp balls and then fry them to perfection .
The shrimp balls can be fried in any oil , but using peanut oil is better than using other oils.
It’s a simple mixture of peanut oil and sesame oil .
How long does it take to cook shrimp balls ?
It takes no time at all to cook shrimp balls, which is why they are popular as a party appetizer or starter.
You can prepare them with just a little bit of oil , your favorite herbs and spices and a few minutes of hands-on time on the frying pan.
The shrimp balls will cook in about 10 minutes once you start to fry them .
Are shrimp balls suitable for vegetarians ?
Shrimp balls are a great dish for vegetarians.
The shrimp does not contain any shell or bones , so it is considered by many to be the perfect meat substitute.
Many people find that shrimp balls are the perfect addition to a vegetarian meal.
For some vegetarians, they are the closest thing they will get to eating meat .
Additionally , shrimp balls are low in fat and cholesterol-free.
This makes them an ideal meal for those who want to keep their cholesterol levels low .
If you’re not sure whether or not you can make shrimp balls without meat , then you may have to read through some other recipes first.
For example, there is a vegetarian version of shrimp balls that features tofu as the main ingredient.
This makes them suitable for vegetarians, but not everyone enjoys tofu .
What type of shrimp should you use for a shrimp ball recipe ?
Any type of shrimp will work for the shrimp ball recipe .
Shrimp is a very popular ingredient in this dish , so you can get as creative as you want.
You can use any size shrimp, or even different types of shrimp that are similar in size.
If you are going to buy frozen shrimp , make sure that you buy it in the “shell” form.
This means that you will have to take the shrimp out of its shell before cooking it.
It’s easier to remove the shell when the shrimp is frozen and defrosted than it is when it’s thawed.
Just make sure that you’ve defrosted the shrimp prior to making the shrimp ball recipe .
You should also make sure that you cook your shrimp balls properly.
Here are some tips:
- Fry the shrimp balls until they have a golden color .
- Then , cook them just enough so that they don’t become rubbery.
- Make sure that your oven has a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) .
- If it does not , then you can use a pan with a heat resistant glass lid to cook your shrimp balls.
What sauces can be used to accompany shrimp balls ?
Shrimp balls are a great snack to have with an appetizer , or you can serve them as dinner.
You can accompany them with a variety of sauces depending on your taste buds and the meal you’re eating it with.
Here are some of the most popular shrimp ball sauce recipes .
Vinaigrette
You can make your own vinaigrette with this recipe and add it to the shrimp balls during the cooking process .
Mix the ingredients and then pour it over the shrimp balls during the frying process.
Tartar sauce
A tartar sauce is made with mayonnaise , mustard, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce .
A good tartar sauce is a mixture of flavors and tastes that hits all the right notes.
It’s great to pair with a variety of dishes including seafood, burgers and sandwiches.
Chow mien
Chow mien is a traditional Chinese dish that uses noodles, pork, vegetables, egg and shrimp.
If you’d like to go for something different for your shrimp balls recipe , this is a great option for you !.
Use your favorite noodles to make this dish, and then roll them in a mix of ground peanuts and sesame seeds before frying .
Is it possible to freeze shrimp balls after cooking ?
Shrimp balls are one of those dishes that are at their best when they are made fresh.
They can be fried, baked or grilled and served with a range of sauces.
However , you may want to freeze some shrimp balls for a future occasion as well .
If you’re going to freeze shrimp balls, do so as soon as you make them to ensure that they don’t get too hard or dry out .
When you make shrimp balls, put them in a container, cover it in plastic wrap and then place it in the freezer.
If you want to freeze the shrimp ball mixture , add oil and spices to it before freezing it.
How can you tell when the shrimp balls are cooked ?
One of the most frustrating parts about cooking shrimp balls is knowing when they are done .
You often get the shrimp cooked, but when you go to mix in the rest of the ingredients , they fall apart.
This happens because shrimp balls are made using a batter and not real eggs.
The trick to check if the shrimp balls are ready is to use a meat thermometer .
Place the probe into the center of one of the shrimp balls and make sure it registers at least 180 degrees F.
If it’s not done yet, keep cooking them until it is.
Some shrimp balls might have a little more resistance to being cooked , but they should register at least 180 degrees F.
If you don’t have a meat thermometer , you can use a fork or chopstick to test that it’s done.
It should be soft but not mushy.
If your shrimp balls still aren’t cooked enough, then it means that they didn’t cook as much as they needed to in order to reach their maximum potential .
Can shrimp balls be served hot or cold ?
Shrimp balls can be eaten hot or cold , but they are best eaten cold.
Cook shrimp balls in advance and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.
You can also freeze them before you cook them .
What accompaniments work best with shrimp balls ?
With shrimp balls being so popular, you will find that many different sauces can be used to please your guests.
If you are serving the dish with a sauce , consider the following:
For a mild blend of flavors, mix together 1 cup (250 grams) mayonnaise with 1/2 cup (120 ml) lemon juice, 1/4 cup (30 grams) prepared horseradish , 1 tablespoon (15 grams) chopped fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon (5 grams) Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) paprika, and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.
For a spicy kick , combine 2 tablespoons (30 grams) minced fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon (15 grams) minced fresh garlic and 2 teaspoons (10 grams) ground cumin in a small bowl.
Then add 1/4 cup (60 ml) tomato puree and 1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped green onions .
For a more complex flavor, try combining 2 tablespoons (30 grams) fresh lime juice, 1 tablespoon (15 grams) prepared horseradish, 1 tablespoon (15 grams) finely chopped onion, 2 teaspoons (10 grams) prepared mustard , 1 teaspoon (5 grams) Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper in a large bowl.
You can also serve shrimp balls with tartar sauce or cocktail sauce.
These sauces can be made using different ingredients .
Try the following combinations:
Tartar sauce
Combine 2 teaspoons (10 grams) prepared mustard with 3 tablespoons (45 ml) mayonnaise in a small bowl.
Cocktail sauce
Combine 2 teaspoons (10 grams) prepared horseradish with 3 tablespoons (45 ml) ketchup in a small bowl.
Almond butter sauce
Mix together 1/4 cup (85 grams) almond butter with 2 teaspoons (10 grams) prepared horseradish.
Add 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons (30 ml) lemon juice to the mixture .
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 1 lb. shrimp shelled and deveined, defrost
- 1 egg white lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt or fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon oil or some pork fat
- 3 dashes white pepper powder
- 8 pieces spring roll wrapper 8-inch square
Instructions
- Combine the shrimp, egg white, salt/fish sauce, sugar, corn starch, sesame oil, oil, and white pepper in a mini food processor. Blend until the ingredients come together to form the shrimp paste.
- Roll up the spring roll wrappers. Using a pair of scissors, cut the spring roll wrappers into tiny strips. Make shorter strips out of them. Place them on a level surface. Wet your hands and roll the shrimp paste into 1 tablespoon balls before rolling them onto the bed of spring roll strips.
- As shown in the image below, the spring roll strips will adhere to the shrimp ball.
- Using a pair of scissors, cut the spring roll strips. Make sure the strips evenly coat the shrimp ball. The strips that were cut off can be reused.
- Deep fry the shrimp balls in a deep fryer or wok for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the pan, drain on paper towels, and serve immediately with Thai sweet chili sauce or your favorite chili sauce.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.