Fried Pork Balls (Bakso Goreng Babi) - version 4

Description:
Finally, I can make the pork balls like, well close to the pork balls at Tante Caulfield's. You know... just like the other copycat recipe (also known as economical version) heheheh Anyway, the taste and teh texture is very close, I'm serious. If you like the balls chewy in the inside and crunchy at the outside, then... this is the one!

The keys are the seasoning and the frying temperature and time. This recipe is based on my first trial with the pork balls by modifying Ci Ine's (Elkaje) recipe.

Please note that the spoon measurement is based on US measuring spoon.



Ingredients:
350 g mince pork or mince beef (I haven't tried with lean meat)
225 g tapioca flour
2 eggs, extra large or 59 g mass size
9 Tbsp (135 mL, using the 15mL US Tbsp) water

0.5 Tbsp soy sauce, Kikoman
1 Tbsp Thai fish sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
0.5 Tbsp spring onion, white part, finely chopped
20 g garlic, grated or finely chopped, about 5 medium size cloves. Caution: Some garlic varieties may have more pungent flavour.
0.5 tsp caster sugar
0.3 tsp ground white pepper
0.3 tsp salt, optional



Directions:
1. Put meat and the rest of ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Mix well until the meat is distributed in the mixture, no big lumps and the mixture is sticky.
3. Rest the mixture for about 5 minutes to let the tapioca flour swells in the liquid. The mixture will become slightly thickened.
4. Meanwhile, heat up enough oil in the frying pan to medium high heat.
5. Wet the spoon in cold water every time scooping the meat mixture. Put the meat mixture in your palm. Form the hand like holding an ice cream cone. Press the fingers from bottom up. Squeeze out some mixture from between the thumb and the index finger.
6. Once finished enough balls in the frying pan, reduce the heat and fry the balls for 10-15 minutes on medium low heat. Take out from the oil and drain on the paper towel.


Note:
If the meat is substituted with mince chicken, reduce the water to 6-7 Tbsp as chicken is more watery. The mixture can be partly replaced or completely replaced with mince prawn meat, crab meat, fish and/or squid. Just adjust the amount of water accordingly.

If you want meatier balls, reduce the amount of tapioca flour and adjust the amount of water.

Any left over can be used for stir fry or soup.