Easy Recipe for Savory Fried Shrimp Balls

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Here is an easy recipe for fried shrimp balls , savory snack that you can find in dim sum restaurant or Chinese restaurants. This dish is loved by so many generations.

I bet a lot of people love the taste of shrimps. I do! Shrimps always give an umami flavor in a dish. It adds the flavor of a dish to the next level.

My family love fried shrimp balls. You can easily find it in Chinese food restaurants or dim sum restaurants in their menu list. We all love deep-fried foods, even though we know they are not that healthy, but who can resist it?

If you prefer chicken, this deep-fried chicken meatballs. And when you spread shrimp batter between toast, you will have Menbosha, the Korean shrimp toast.

These savory balls can also be served as main dish together with Kikurage Mushroom Chicken, or Pork and Broccoli Stir Fry.

Here I will share easy recipe for fried shrimp balls that has been my family’s favorite! This is super easy even beginners in the kitchen can make it successfully!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Kids will love this – Make small bites of shrimp balls. Put them all in a bowl. Your kids will love this cute snack.
Healthy snack – The ingredients are all healthy with little gluten-free flour.
Suitable for any occasion – These cute shrimp balls are suitable for small gatherings or appetizers, perfect for any occasion.
Can be made ahead of time – You can prepare the batter and keep it in the fridge, deep-fry them one hour before the even and they are fresh for the guests.

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredient Notes

Shrimps – Get fresh shrimps, peel and devein them before processing.

Garlic – Garlic will add fragrance to the shrimp balls and reduce the stink from shrimps.

Sesame oil – It adds flavor and fragrance to the dish.

Coriander stalks or leeks – Add chopped coriander stalks or chopped leeks for more added flavor. This is optional. If you don’t have it, omitting this will not affect the taste much.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

How To Make

Photo collage of processing the ingredients in a food processor.

STEP 1. First, wash the shrimp clean, peel and devein. Put the shrimps in a food processor. Add the seasonings. (Images 1, 2)

STEP 2. Put in the egg. Add minced garlic, sesame oil, oyster sauce, tapioca flour, sugar, salt, pepper, and mushroom powder. If you are fond of coriander stalks or leeks, you may put some (ImageS 3, 4).

Photo collage of deep-frying the shrimp balls.

STEP 3. Process the shrimp coarsely. If you like it very smooth, you can process it longer. I like my shrimp balls to have bits of shrimp chunks in it. Mix them all together with a spatula until incorporated (Image 5).

STEP 4. Heat the frying oil, you can use a deep wok or deep-fryer pan. Test with a bamboo stick. If you stick the bamboo stick and bubbles come out of it, it is ready to fry. Take one teaspoon of the batter and shape it into a ball using two spoons. Fry them until it is golden brown and floats to the surface (Images 6, 7, 8). Take them out and let them dry in a kitchen towel. Enjoy with chilli sauce!

Pro Tips

After mixing, put the batter covered with cling wrap in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This will help you shape the balls easily with spoons.
Shape the balls with two spoons by scooping it to one another until it is shaped like a ball. It takes time to practice, but it is very easy.
If you don’t want to shape it like a ball, you can just scoop it and drop it in the hot frying oil.
You can chop the shrimp coarsely, if you like some coarse shrimp bites in it.
If you use leeks, try to get more white parts than the green parts. The green parts can turn to dark brown when fried. It doesn’t look good.
If you are not in a hurry, it’s better to keep it in the refrigerator for a while, at least 1 hour. This will make the batter easier to shape. But if you are in a hurry, it is still okay to deep-fry it right away. Only the batter is a bit runny and a little more difficult to shape. Use two small spoons.

How to Serve

This side dish is best served with steamed rice, or Minced pork noodles. Pair it with Egg drop soup or Egg fried rice.

Or for an afternoon snack, serve it with a dipping sauce or chilli sauce. Serve it with a refreshing beverage like Lemongrass Pandan Drink or Rose Milk Tea.

FAQs about Fried Shrimp Balls

Can I omit the leeks or coriander stalks in the batter? I don’t like the smell.

Yes, you can. You can omit leeks or coriander stalks. Some people can’t stand the smell.

Why are my fried shrimp balls soggy?

Overcooking can make the shrimp balls soggy, because shrimps cook very quickly. Shape them small and deep-fry for only a few minutes.

How can I make the batter easier to shape?

Keep the batter in the chiller for at least an hour to make it easier to shape.

Shrimp balls on a rice paper with a small bowl of chilli sauce.

Storage

Keep the un-fried batter in a closed container for up to 2 days in the chiller. If you have some fried leftover, keep them in a closed container, reheat in air-fryer or microwave. They can be kept for up to 5 days.

More Recipes With Shrimps

Shrimp Fried Rice mixed with chicken is an easy dish to make.
Eggs are the best companion to shrimps, Shrimp Omelette can be your great breakfast option.