Description
This Spicy Baked Shrimp Balls recipe is a flavorful appetizer perfect for seafood lovers. Made with finely chopped shrimp mixed with aromatic garlic, shallots, Thai chili peppers, fresh herbs, and panko breadcrumbs, these shrimp balls are baked to golden perfection and served with sweet chili sauce for a delightful spicy kick. Quick to prepare and light, they make a great starter or party snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp Balls
- 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
Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 3 Thai chili peppers, seeded and chopped
Additional
- Cooking spray (for baking sheet)
- Sweet chili sauce (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉ to prepare for baking the shrimp balls.
- Prepare Shrimp Mixture: Finely chop the shrimp in a food processor until minced. Transfer to a bowl and add egg whites, Panko bread crumbs, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, salt, pepper, and lime juice. Mix everything thoroughly to combine.
- Sauté Aromatics (Optional): Heat canola oil in a pan over medium heat, then sauté the minced garlic, chopped shallots, and seeded Thai chili peppers until they become translucent and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooled sautéed aromatics to the shrimp mixture. Mix well to evenly distribute the flavors throughout the mixture.
- Form Shrimp Balls: Using your hands, shape the shrimp mixture into approximately 1-inch diameter balls. Place them on a baking sheet lightly coated with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Bake and Broil: Bake the shrimp balls in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes until they start to firm up. Then switch to broil mode and broil for 2 minutes to achieve a golden brown and slightly crispy exterior. Keep an eye to avoid burning.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the spicy baked shrimp balls warm with sweet chili sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- For a milder dish, reduce the amount of Thai chili peppers or omit the seeds.
- If you don’t have a food processor, finely chop the shrimp by hand for a chunkier texture.
- To make the shrimp balls hold together better, you can chill the mixture for 10-15 minutes before forming the balls.
- Cooking spray can be substituted with a light brush of oil on the baking sheet.
- These shrimp balls can also be cooked in an air fryer at 350℉ for about 12-15 minutes for a quicker, less oily option.
