These homemade Fish Balls are easy to make and require only a few simple ingredients. Experience how different these are from those you usually buy on the streets.
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I love street food as much as the next person. They are tasty, inexpensive, and filling. I have been enjoying them for as long as I can remember. One of the most popular of these is fish balls. You will see them being sold on mobile food carts almost everywhere you go in the Philippines.
However, as much as I appreciate them, these kinds of commercialized street food can be full of extenders and artificial flavors. So I have been sharing how to make them at home using all-natural ingredients like my Siomai, Calamares, and Kwek-Kwek recipes. They are easy to make and can be stored easily so you can stock them up. You'll never know when the cravings might hit!
What Fish to Use?
Generally, you can use any type of fish to make fish balls. But the ideal type to use is the ones with fewer bones and more gelatin. You can have fresh ones or use frozen ones. Frozen fillets are, of course, the easier choice.
Here are some common fishes normally used for making fish balls:
- mackerel
- sole
- cream dory
- tilapia
I used frozen cream dory fillets to make mine and it turned out great. If using fresh whole fish, just fillet them scrape the flesh of the skin using a spoon then remove any bones.
Homemade Fishball Sauces
As with any Asian-inspired food, the sauce plays a big role in the holistic appeal of the dish. Here in the Philippines, there are 3 usual types of dips used to enjoy deep-fried fish balls.
- Spiced Vinegar. I make mine using vinegar, red onion, salt, and ground pepper. I also add chopped hot chili to make it a bit spicy.
- Sweet and Sour Sauce. If you want to make this, check my Sweet and Sour Meatball recipe.
- Manong's sauce. Everyone's favorite!" Manong" is a Tagalog term for "mister". That is how we call the fishball vendor who makes the sauce. It's a one-for-all dipping sauce that is used for a variety of street food. It is sweet and spicy, brown in color, and has a thick consistency. Made using water, flour, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, red chili, ground pepper, and salt.
How to Store Fish Balls?
If you are making a big batch of fish balls with the intention of keeping some for future use, make sure to store them properly to prevent spoilage. Let the balls cool down completely after boiling before placing them on ziplock bags.
In the fridge- it can stay fresh for at least 5 days. You will know if it is still good from the texture and smell. If it is coated in a slimy film and has an overpowering fishy smell, get rid of it immediately.
In the freezer- these yummy balls can stay frozen for months without spoiling. Make sure they are properly sealed to prevent freezer burns.
Serving Ideas
There are a lot of different ways to enjoy fishballs! You can deep-fry or air-fry them and serve them with your favorite dipping sauce as an afternoon snack. You can also use them for soups and hotpots. I often add them to my Pancit Canton or Pancit Bihon as toppings.
Printable Recipe
Homemade Fishballs
Ingredients
- 500 grams fish fillet use while still cold or a bit frozen
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic
- 2 teaspoon salt - more or less
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon white ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup potato starch or tapioca or cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg white
- ½ cup ice cold water
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Cut fish fillet into small pieces and place in a food processor or blender.
- Add onion powder, garlic powder, salt, sugar, ground pepper, oil, flour, starch, baking powder and egg white.
- Pulse for a couple of minutes gradually adding the ice water in between until it get a homogeneous texture. About 2-3 minutes depending on speed of processor. Transfer content to a bowl.
- Prepare a large bowl of lukewarm water (40°C).
- Shaping. Lightly grease one hand with oil. Then scoop a fistful of mixture. Create a small round opening with your thumb and index finger. Then gently squeeze the mixture to push it up and out through the opening to make a small ball. Using a spoon, scoop the ball and transfer it to the lukewarm water. Do this to the rest of the mixture.
- Fill a large pot with enough water and bring it to a very gentle simmer. Scoop the balls using a strainer and transfer them in the hot water. Do not let the water into a rolling boil or it might break the fish balls. Cook for 20 minutes then remove the balls using a strainer and transfer them in a colander to drain excess water.
- Let them cool down and store in ziplocks to freeze or you can fry them and serve with fish ball sauce.
Shelley says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. My kids loved it 😍
Bebs says
My pleasure, Shelley. Glad your kids like it.
Malen says
This recipe taste like Home ❤ thank you for sharing your delicious recipe Kabayan! ❤
ye2jd says
Nutritious, full of healthy flavors and can be added in a variety of dishes. Two thumbs up!
Bebs says
Thank you for the 5 stars and 2 thumbs up! 😉
john tavera says
yummy! good and detailed recipe..
Maria says
I did it … but I broke my blender 😂😂😂😂
Bebs says
Why? It should not be that thick.
Ro says
I followed the procedure, but it won't shape and when I drop it in a luke warma water it's all breaking apart. What am I doing wrong? Please help!
Bebs says
It could be that the gluten has not formed yet, did you get it to a homogeneous texture? Also, keep the mixture cold at all times before dropping in the lukewarm water.
Beng says
Just for clarification, what is the purpose of the 1/2 cup ice-cold water, because it is not in the procedure. Thanks so much.
Bebs says
Hi Beng, you add it to the mixture before or while you blend it in the processor.