For most Asian countries, fish ball is a very common ingredient that can be found in everyday cooking. In Malaysia, fish balls are mostly used as toppings to noodle-based or soup-based dishes (noodle soup, fried noodles) and also served in soups. Fish balls are very versatile and I often keep a packet or two of frozen fish balls in my fridge. I love cooking fish balls dishes such as curry fish balls, braised fishballs with bean curd and daikon in claypot, and sweet and sour fish balls featured above.
Sweet and sour fish balls are very easy to make; I prepared mine in less than 15 minutes. It calls for very simple and easy-to-get ingredients. What I love most about the dish is that it can be a main entree that goes very well with steamed rice, but it can also be converted to a little snack–one that you can eat pretty much anytime of the day when you’re hungry. Want something fancier? Sure. Find yourself some toothpicks and suddenly, they transform into some nice Asian-style tapas that would please your crowd at parties…
While I love fish balls, I must say that not all fish balls are created equally. Some bad fish balls have strong fishy odor, others are plain “powdery” (too much flour used and not enough fish). I can’t get any “Made in Malaysia” fish balls in the US, so I would always go for those Made in Thailand or Singapore. Currently, my favorite brand is Dodo fish balls from Singapore with a springy texture.
Rasa Malaysia Suggested Menus
This sweet and sour fish balls would go well with:
Ingredients:
10-12 fish balls
1 1/2 tablespoon tomato sauce/ketchup
1/2 teaspoon Sri Racha chili sauce (or any spicy chili sauce)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon oyster sauce
1/2 teaspoon oil
Sesame seeds
Method:
Deep fry the fish balls until they turn golden brown. Dish out and set aside.
In a sauce pan, add in 1/2 teaspoon cooking oil, ketchup, chili sauce, sugar, oyster sauce and stir until the sauces are well blended. Toss in the fish balls and coat them well with the sauce. Dish out, top with sesame seeds, and serve hot.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Not all fishballs are created equal, but yours are certainly decorated above the rest! ;)
Love the sprinkling of sesame seeds over the sauce-laden fishballs. Amazing what a little thing would do the overall presentation!
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hahhaa…I think I can try this recipe, thanks! There are nothing more than fish balls, sotong balls, prawn balls, meat balls…here in Taiwan. Fresh ones served in restaurants and even hand-made frozen ones in the supermarket.
I will pair these with your stir fried chive buds. :D
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looks and sounds delicious!
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Oh, a complete menu, what’s a good idea !!! I take all, that’s for sure ;-) Have a nice day, cheers !
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MMmmmm. I grew up in the Philippines and left for the US when I was about 6, but I definitely remember fishballs! The fishball man was my favorite – he’d pierce on 5 or 6 of these on a stick and I’d get to dip it into one of the mysterious sauces. Thanks for bringing me waaaay back =)
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Oh, yummy! That dish looks mighty scrumptious!
cheers,
Rosa
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how I miss fishballs. I remember when I was in the Philippines. My co-workers and I would sneak out of the office at around 3 pm to go to the fish-ball cart guy who would deep fry this for us and we would eat it off a stick with the sweet and sour sauce dripping from it…yum!
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My mouth is salivating already. In fact I always do whenever I visit your blog!
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I love fish balls and marvel at their perfection.
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You just made me drool..
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We have “fresh” ones here. There is a store that makes all the different types. Love to go on weekends or when we have hotpot/shabu-shabu. Yum!
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i’m from malaysia (malay)..but stay in dubai.. i already miss fish ball.. next time i wanna try this recipe
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Halloo from a longtime reader!
I had been coming here all these while to feast my eyes on whatever you dished out here.
I never fail to be amazed whenever I visited your site!
marlindaradzi.com
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I agree with Kenny, I’ve never seen fish balls look so colorful and delicious. No only do I learn how to cook from you Rasa Malaysia, but I also learn how to salivate! I think your idea of serving these as hors d’oeuvres is a fantastic one!
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Yummy. I’m so hungry!
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looks so simple yet elegant when plated..and to us, its really fishballs you can get anywhere, what a difference abit of ketchup and chilli makes!
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so yummy~
so cute fish balls
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Fish Ball is always my long time favorite, will try the recipe.
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fried fish balls are used a lot by the Malay roadside peddlars in sticks , that show how versatile they are, but somehow fish ball noodles din really catch on maybe too plain ?
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hi raSA,
OMG THOSE FISHBALLS LOOK fantaxtic (oops didnt mean to yell). Yum, yum, yum!!!!
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These look lovely!! I haven’t had fish balls for a while – must remember to pick some up the next time I see an Asian grocery store!
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these would be perfect for a pot luck i’ve been invited to… simple and easy to make and i bet it tastes great! cant wait to try it out! :)
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you sweet and sour fish balls look so good. i am bookmarking your sweet and sour fish balls recipe.
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how much does it serve???
2 or 3?
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