Home-style Recipe for Deep-Fried Vegetable Balls

When you take a bite of deep-fried vegetable balls, the golden outer crust delicately cracks, releasing hot steam and a tantalizing aroma. As you chew, the fresh flavors of the vegetables spread in your mouth, bringing a refreshing texture and abundant nutrition. These fried vegetable balls not only offer a delightful mouthfeel but also pay homage to nature. Each bite allows you to savor the pure and healthy essence of the vegetables, providing your body with vitality and nourishment. Whether enjoyed as an afternoon tea snack or an appetizer at gatherings, they bring joy and satisfaction.
Ingredients for Deep-Fried Vegetable Balls

Steps:
1.Begin by preparing a section of winter melon. Peel off the skin, remove the seeds, and cut the winter melon into thin slices. Then, cut it into fine strips, followed by small cubes. Place the winter melon cubes in a bowl. Chop a bunch of cilantro and add it to the same bowl with the winter melon. Once the ingredients are ready, proceed to the next step.

2.Add a tablespoon of edible oil to the bowl and mix well using chopsticks. Then, add 2 grams of salt, 5 grams of chicken essence, 1 gram of pepper, and an appropriate amount of thirteen-spice powder. Mix everything thoroughly with your hands.

3.Crack an egg into the bowl and stir in one direction. Add a handful of flour and a tablespoon of starch along with a small amount of baking powder (which helps create a fluffy texture). For home cooking, you can skip the baking powder. The ratio of flour to starch is 1:1, as the starch helps bind the filling and prevent it from breaking apart. Mix everything again until the mixture is no longer sticky. Do not add water throughout the process. Now, we are ready to fry the balls.

4.Heat oil in a pan. When the oil reaches approximately 50% heat, lower the heat or switch to low heat. Take a handful of the winter melon filling, squeeze it out between your thumb and index finger, shaping it into a ball, and then use a spoon to scoop out the ball and place it into the pan.

5.After the oil cools down, return the pan to the heat and continue frying the balls. When adding the balls, make sure to use low heat and avoid high oil temperature. This ensures that the color and doneness of the initial batch of balls match those of the later batches. Gently shake the pan to prevent the balls from sticking to the bottom. Before the balls are fully set, avoid directly pushing them; instead, use a spoon to gently push the oil at the edge of the pan. The balls will gradually take shape. Once the surface of the balls solidifies and sticks together, lightly break them apart using the spoon. Remove the balls from the oil when they turn slightly golden.

6.Increase the oil temperature to approximately 60% heat, where the oil starts emitting smoke. Re-fry the balls for another 30 seconds. This second frying will make the balls crispy and golden. Remove the balls from the oil and drain excess oil.

7.Prepare a dipping sauce by crushing two cloves of garlic and cutting them into minced pieces. Place the minced garlic in a small bowl along with a little chopped cilantro. Add an appropriate amount of salt, monosodium glutamate, light soy sauce, dark vinegar, and chili oil. Mix everything well and transfer it to a visually appealing small dish.

Tips
1.Adding cooking oil helps to create a layer of oil film on the outer surface of the winter melon, preventing excessive water release during cooking.
2.Chopping the vegetables into small pieces ensures even distribution in the balls and facilitates thorough cooking and frying.
3.Before adding all the vegetable balls, it’s helpful to fry a small piece of batter and vegetables as a test. This allows you to adjust the oil temperature and batter ratio to achieve a perfect texture and taste in the final result.

Deep-Fried Vegetable Balls are a delightful combination of deliciousness, healthiness, and creativity. They not only satisfy your taste buds but also evoke a sense of gratitude for the gifts of nature. When you taste these delectable balls, you will be enveloped in pure joy, as if indulging in a unique and marvelous culinary feast. Please savor this delight and let the deep-fried vegetable balls bring you endless satisfaction and bliss to your soul. Let each bite be a moment of experiencing the essence of life and share the charm of this dish with your loved ones, creating beautiful memories together.