Simple And Easy Homemade Fish Balls
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Delicious fish balls
Fish balls is one of my favourite snacks when I was young. My mom made very good fish balls but I never learned from her….*sigh*. The flavour, texture and taste was just superb. My fish balls just can’t measure up to hers. Nevertheless I am just very happy that I know how to make them and my family likes them very much.
To make nice fish balls, the type of fish used is the most important. Back home we use mackerel, also called ikan tenggiri in Malaysia. But then I can’t find this fish here. The best fish here for making these fish balls is an ugly fish called ‘hake’. A friend introduced me to this fish. Sadly, you can’t find this fish in the supermarket. You need to go to the fish factory and you have to place an order. I only did that once. Just too inconvenient.
Very often I use the fish called ‘river cobbler’ to make these fish balls. They are delicious but definitely not as delicious as those made from hake. River cobbler is a very nice fish and much cheaper than other fish. I love to coat it with a curry mix and then pan fry it. It’s very simple, easy and delicious. It’s especially good served with rice. For more, you can click on Super Easy Curry Fish Fillet.
Here’s my simple and easy homemade fish balls using river cobbler. You can try with other fish too. If you use frozen fish, you need to defrost it first and then pat dry before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Ingredients
650g fish
3/4C cornstarch
3 eggs
1 & 1/4t salt
3/4t pepper powder
Process fish and other ingredients
Put everything in a processor and process until it’s a smooth, sticky paste.
fish paste
Scoop into a bowl and chill it for a few hours. I left it overnight.
Uncooked fish balls
Use wet hand to squeeze out the fish paste through your thumb and first finger into balls onto a plate. Or you can also use 2 spoons to do that. You can also use a melon scoop to do that. But dip in water each time before you scoop so that the paste can come off easily.
Frying fish balls
Turn over and fry further
When all is done, you can put them into boiling water to boil them, shallow fry them or deep fry them using medium fire. They are quick to cook so don’t overcook them.
These fish balls are very delicious eaten just as they are or with a dipping sauce of your choice. It’s good to make more as you can keep them in the fridge. Just warm them up before serving. You can also add them to stir fried vegetables, make sweet and sour fish balls, put them through a skewer like satay or add to a bowl of noodle soup. They are also great for hot pot (called steam boat in Malaysia).
Fish balls in rice noodle soup
I like fish balls in soup with some rice noodles. It’s my favourite light meal before going for badminton. See how simple and delicious it looks here……mmmm.
So, what have you been cooking lately? Anything simple and easy to share? Hope you have a great week!
Other river cobbler recipes that you may be interested in:
Super Easy Curry Fish Fillet
Malaysian Curry Fish Laksa
Fish Fritters With Cucumber
Easy Low Fat Fish Pie
Quote of the day……
“Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.”
- Theodore Rubin
Keep Learning Keep Smiling
22 Comments
Belinda @zomppa on April 3rd, 2012
Oh, thank you, thank you, for posting this! I LOVE fish balls, but stopped buying them b/c I wasn’t sure what was in there, but now I can make my own. Woohoo!!
Sophie on April 3rd, 2012
Yummy yummy yummy fish balls! They call my name,…really! 
Drick on April 3rd, 2012
Hey girl… these look wonderful and I would like them cooked in a soup just like yours … and, I always thought fish balls were smaller (tee-hee)… actually, we like to make these using fish, crab, shrimp and even vegetables but use cornmeal instead of cornstarch and serve them with a spicy Cajun or Creole dip…
Mary on April 3rd, 2012
Hi Mary,
Stumbled on your blog and must say you’re a good cook. Just wanted to say you can also use milk fish for fish balls too if you can find it at some fish market. They can turn out pretty well for fish balls. Happy blogging!
Jeannie on April 3rd, 2012
Wow! I like that noodles soup with lots of fishballs please:D Looks so delicious and healthy too!
claire on April 3rd, 2012
These reminded me of my younger days, my mum used to do that, but of course, no machine then. She used the knife to mix them up to a smooth paste and then make the balls, after which, would put them out to the sun to dry… (those days never thought of pollution one).. real “sai to” fish balls.. bouncy and chewy with no preservatives!
Blackswan on April 3rd, 2012
I found a place which sells really fresh & nice fish balls for just S$1-2 or 9 I think. Really cheap & there’s always a long queue cause it’s tasty. But of course, nothing beats homemade like yours! Kudos to u for your effort, dear.
noobcook on April 4th, 2012
what a luxury and a treat to have home-made fish balls
kdonkey1000 on April 4th, 2012
I’ve never had fish balls, but that is about to change. they sound lovely and like the idea of adding them to a light noodle soup. thanks for a great recipe
Katerina on April 5th, 2012
These fish balls are such a great idea especially when they are dipped in this warm soup. Now that you mention your mother, I wonder how your parents are back in Malaysia. I remember that they have health problems and you were very concerned when you were leaving them. I hope they are ok. Have a great weekend Mary!
Angie@Angie's Recipes on April 5th, 2012
wow So yummy! Didn’t realize the fish balls could be this easy!
Mistletoe on April 5th, 2012
I want that bowl of noodles right now!! Looks so yummy. Definitely agree that the type of fish makes all the difference when making fishballs. I’ve never made fishballs before. Really need to try one of these days.
The word ikan reminded me of something…anchovy. Hahaha! I forgot the exact word though. You’ll have to remind me if you remember. Or maybe I’ll have to ask a panda again. We will probably go in circles coz shed ask what anchovy is. Lol.
Thank you for sharing your recipe and methods with us again. Must be very busy with the long weekend coming up. Haven’t seen you much on FB. Miss you! Take good care and hope you and your lovely family enjoy a great long weekend. Hugs always!!!
kristy on April 9th, 2012
Kudos! Your fishballs recipe sounded very interesting. Didn’t know you can use eggs in making fish balls! :o) Must be very delicious and smell heavenly as well.
Hoep you’re having a great week ahead, Mary.
Enjoy!
Kristy
Faith on April 9th, 2012
I’ve never had fish balls but I’d love to try them! It’s funny you mentioned mackarel — I just noticed it at the grocery store for the first time this weekend!
lena on April 9th, 2012
my mother used to make fishballs too but cannot remember how she made them, only thing i know that she scraped the flesh out and then later i saw her banging the flesh on the counter! how convenient now it sounds using food processor to do the job!
peachkins on April 9th, 2012
Oh I love fried fish balls dipped in some spicy sauce!!!
Mistletoe on April 9th, 2012
I remember now! Ikan balis. Teehee.
wok with ray on April 10th, 2012
Nothing is better than home-made fish balls just like what you did. The commercial type ones that you buy from the stores are okay but you don’t know what’s in it. Thank you for sharing, Mary. Love the look of that soup!
Wendy on April 11th, 2012
I like the idea of homemade fish balls. Store-bought ones always have msg. I will definitely try yours.
Carol on May 10th, 2012
I stubbled across this recipe whilst looking for something different to do with some River Cobbler!I made these last night with a Sweet & Sour Sauce, Boiled Rice and Stir Fry Veg. They went down a treat! As there are only 3 of us I halved the recipe but next time will do full amount and freeze them as they are quie time consuming to make but well worth it! Think I will invest in a melon baller and try with other fish! Thanks for the recipe!
Tony wong on November 18th, 2012
Marry , my wife wish to ask you on the ingredient 3/4 c cornstarch ( what does the “C” stand for ) ? and 1 & 1/4 t salt ( what does the “t” stand for ) ? . Could you kindly email me please . thank you
suituapui on April 3rd, 2012
Fried fishballs… My daughter’s favourite. I prefer then not fried though…and cooked in soup. Yummmm!!!!