Vietnamese Fried Shrimp Balls Tom Vien Food

EASY CRISPY VIETNAMESE SHRIMP BALLS

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• Remove paste from refrigerator. Use an ice cream scoop, a tablespoon, or your hands to form shrimp paste into balls.
• 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.
• 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.
• Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat. Cook shrimp balls until golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes.

VIETNAMESE FRIED SHRIMP BALLS (TOM VIEN)

Steps:

• Finely puree Ingredient A in a mixer , season the mixture with Ingredient B then knead in the egg and flour.
• Form little balls from the shrimp mixture , fry in hot oil until turn crispy and golden brown. Ready to serve.

VIETNAMESE GRILLED SHRIMP - TOM CANG NUONG

Steps:

• Mix the onion, garlic, oil, and fish sauce in a bowl large enough to hold the shrimp.
• Add the shrimp, toss to coat evenly, and marinate, covered, at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Soak the wooden skewers in water for 20-30 minutes.
• Prepare grill or preheat broiler.
• To prepare the dip, mix together the lime juice, pepper, salt, fish sauce, and sugar, in a small bowl, mixing well; adjust seasonings to taste (add a little water or sugar if dip seems too tart).
• Thread shrimp onto wooden skewers; lightly coat each finished skewer with oil or cooking spray, and place on grill over medium coals or heat (or place on pan under broiler), and cook approximately 5 minutes, turning once, or until shrimps are pink, firm, and slightly charred in spots.
• Serve shrimp with the dipping sauce.
• A good accompaniment would be steamed rice, or an Asian noodle dish.

VIETNAMESE BEEF BALLS - (THIT BO VIEN)

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, mix the fish sauce, potato starch, baking powder, sugar and white pepper.
• Slice the meat into 1/8-inch-thick pieces.
• Add to the marinade and mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
• Before proceeding, transfer the meat to the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Work with half of the beef at a time; do not overload the work bowl.
• In a food processor, combine half of the beef with half of the garlic and sesame oil.
• Process to a completely smooth but stiff paste, about 3 minutes.
• Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the work bowl.
• The completed paste should spring back to the touch.
• Transfer the paste to a bowl.
• Process the remaining beef, garlic and sesame oil the same way.
• Rub some vegetable oil on one hand, and grab a handful of the meat paste and close your hand into a fist, squeezing out a small portion of the mixture, about 1 teaspoon, between your thumb and index finger.
• Keep rolling and squeezing the same portion between your thumb and index finger until you obtain a smooth rounded ball.
• Scoop out the meatball with an oiled spoon, and repeat until all of the paste is used.
• Pour 1 inch of water into a wok or wide pot, place a steamer rack or bamboo steamer over the water.
• Arrange the meatballs without crowding in a single layer on the rack.
• Cover and steam for 5 minutes.
• Serve as an appetizer with chili sauce.
• These beef balls can also be added to a well-seasoned beef broth, sprinkled with chopped scallions and white pepper and served as a soup (noodles may be added).
• Note: These meatballs may be frozen.
• Thaw them thoroughly, then steam or simmer in boiling water until just heated through.