Description
Shrimp Balls in Garlic Butter Sauce is a delectable Asian-inspired appetizer featuring tender shrimp meatballs fried to a golden brown and served in a rich, aromatic garlic butter sauce. This easy-to-make dish combines savory shrimp with fragrant garlic, buttery goodness, and a hint of lemon for a perfectly balanced flavor. Ideal as a starter or paired over rice or pasta for a main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp Balls
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons green onions, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, for frying
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare Shrimp Mixture: Finely chop the shrimp by hand or pulse briefly in a food processor until coarsely minced but not pureed. Transfer the minced shrimp to a mixing bowl and add panko breadcrumbs, egg, green onions, minced garlic, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined.
- Shape the Shrimp Balls: Form the shrimp mixture into small balls about 1 inch in diameter, ensuring they are compact enough to hold together during cooking.
- Fry the Shrimp Balls: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Carefully add the shrimp balls and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low and melt unsalted butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned to avoid bitterness.
- Add Liquids and Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice into the skillet, stirring well to combine. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until it slightly reduces and thickens, concentrating the flavors.
- Combine Shrimp Balls with Sauce: Return the cooked shrimp balls to the skillet with the garlic butter sauce. Spoon the sauce over the shrimp balls and cook together for another 2 minutes to evenly coat and warm everything through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley for a burst of color and freshness, and serve the shrimp balls warm as an appetizer or with rice or pasta as a main dish.
Notes
- Do not over-process the shrimp to maintain a tender and desirable texture in the shrimp balls.
- For an extra kick of flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter sauce.
- These shrimp balls work great as an appetizer or can be served over rice or pasta for a more substantial meal.
