Easy Crispy Vietnamese Shrimp Balls

If you love Vietnamese flavors, try this recipe for homemade crispy shrimp balls for your next gathering.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 297 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons minced shallot
• 1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 teaspoons packed light brown sugar
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil for frying, or as needed
• 1.5 cups fine bread crumbs

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Rinse shrimp well under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Coarsely chop shrimp into medium pieces and place in the bowl of a food processor.

Step 2

Add 1 beaten egg, shallot, sesame oil, cornstarch, brown sugar, fish sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper to the shrimp in the food processor. Blend until a smooth paste is created. Transfer shrimp paste to a bowl and refrigerate until slightly hardened, about 30 minutes.

Step 3

Remove paste from refrigerator. Use an ice cream scoop, a tablespoon, or your hands to form shrimp paste into balls.

Step 4

Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add shrimp balls, cover, and steam until they become opaque, about 5 minutes. Transfer steamed shrimp balls to a plate and allow to cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Place bread crumbs in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Place 2 beaten eggs in a separate bowl. Roll steamed shrimp balls in bread crumbs, then in beaten eggs, then again in bread crumbs and then place on a plate.

Step 6

Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat. Cook shrimp balls until golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes.