Shrimp Balls

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1 slice bread, crusts removed,soaked in water and squeezed before using
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon sherry wine
• 4 water chestnuts, finely chopped
• 1 cup cold water
• vegetable oil, for frying
• 2 tablespoons chinese peppercorns
• 1/4 cup salt

Recipe

• 1 wash shrimp and dry well with a paper towel.
• 2 chop or grind shrimp very fine (i used my food processor); put into a bowl; add bread, salt, egg, cornstarch, sherry and water chestnuts; stir vigorously 1 minute until well mixed.
• 3 dip a teaspoon into the cold water, then dip spoon into shrimp paste and scoop out enough to form a ball the size of a walnut; repeat this dipping process with each ball, it will prevent sticking.
• 4 heat the oil to 375° (i used an electric frying pan and it was perfect for keeping the oil at the right temperature), and as you're dipping, drop in the balls and fry for about 2-3 minutes, turning halfway through.
• 5 i do about 4-5 at a time, if you try to do more the oil temperature will drop too much and your balls will be greasy!
• 6 drain on paper towels.
• 7 serve hot with peppercorn salt, if desired, or with any sauce of your choice.
• 8 peppercorn salt:.
• 9 brown peppercorns and salt in a dry frying pan over low heat until fragrance comes out.
• 10 place a piece of foil on a flat surface; pour mixture onto foil and fold foil over; crush with a rolling pin.
• 11 you can make this and store indefinitely in a jar in your pantry.