Description
These Spicy Baked Shrimp Balls are a flavorful and healthy appetizer featuring finely chopped shrimp combined with aromatic garlic, shallots, Thai chili peppers, and fresh herbs. Lightly baked to perfection and served with sweet chili sauce, they make a delightful snack or party treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp Ball Mixture
- 1 ½ pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 egg whites
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 green onions, chopped (green parts only)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Juice of one lime
Sautéed Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 3 Thai chili peppers, seeded and chopped
Additional
- Cooking spray
- Sweet chili sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃) to ensure it reaches the correct temperature for baking the shrimp balls.
- Prepare shrimp mixture: Finely chop the shrimp in a food processor until they reach a minced consistency. Transfer to a bowl and add the egg whites, Panko bread crumbs, chopped green onions, cilantro, salt, pepper, and lime juice. Mix these together thoroughly to combine.
- Sauté aromatics: In a skillet, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic, chopped shallots, and seeded chopped Thai chili peppers. Sauté until the mixture becomes translucent and fragrant. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Combine sautéed veggies: Add the cooled sautéed garlic, shallots, and chili peppers into the shrimp mixture. Mix well until evenly incorporated to ensure every bite has balanced flavor.
- Shape shrimp balls: Using your hands or a small scoop, form the shrimp mixture into 1-inch diameter balls. Place the formed balls evenly spaced on a baking sheet that has been lightly coated with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Bake and broil: Bake the shrimp balls in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes. For extra color and crispness, switch to the broiler for an additional 2 minutes until the shrimp balls turn golden brown on top.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm with sweet chili sauce for dipping, adding a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavor to complement the shrimp balls.
Notes
- Make sure to seed the Thai chili peppers if you prefer less heat.
- You can substitute canola oil with any neutral oil such as vegetable oil or grapeseed oil.
- Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor in the shrimp mixture.
- For a gluten-free version, replace Panko bread crumbs with gluten-free bread crumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers.
- Do not over-process shrimp; the mixture should be finely chopped but not pureed for a better texture.
- Serve immediately after baking for the best taste and texture.
