Vegan Fried Fish Balls

Try these Vegan Fried Fish Balls that are delicious, crunchy, and dipped in a spicy and sweet sauce that will take you back to the streets of the Philippines!

What are fish balls?

Fish Balls are popular street food in the Philippines that are usually sold on carts by street vendors who peddle around town.   Dipped in a sauce full of bold and fragrant flavors that also can be enjoyed with other street food like kwek kwek.

What are fish balls made of?

It’s usually made with fish paste, salt, egg whites, and corn starch. But manufacturers have changed the recipe to save money so it’s made more with cheaper ingredients.

Thankfully, it’s super easy to make at home, so give them a try!

How to Make Fried Vegan Fish Balls

Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:

Fish Balls:

• water
• seaweed or nori seaweed
• all-purpose flour
• cornstarch
• onion powder
• black pepper
• rock salt
• brown sugar
• carrots
• green onions
• squash
• coconut oil

For the sauce:

• water
• sugar
• soy sauce
• salt
• cornstarch
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• garlic cloves
• red onions

To make the fish balls:

In a medium bowl, add 2 cups of water, seaweed and soak until softened, about 10 minutes.  Next, remove the seaweed from the water, mince the seaweed, and place back in the water.  If using nori seaweed, mince, then set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, onion powder, black pepper, rock salt, and brown sugar until well combined.

Next, gradually add soaked minced seaweed water to the bowl and mix. Then add carrots, green onions, and squash. 

Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium heat and add coconut oil.

Using a spoon, scoop and drop spoonfuls of the fish ball batter into the pan and cook until it’s golden brown.

Once it’s cooked, remove from the saucepan, place on a strainer to remove the excess oil, and place on a plate and continue cooking until no more fish ball batter.

To make the sauce:

In a medium bowl, add water, sugar and mix until the sugar is dissolved. Then add soy sauce, salt, cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder and mix until well combined making sure to remove any lumps.

In a saucepan, add sauce and over medium heat bring the sauce to a boil so the sauce can thicken.  Keep an eye on it, so the sauce does not burn.  Then add garlic and onions and simmer for a minute then turn off the heat.

Then coat your fish balls and give them a try! You’ll love them!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Why is it necessary to add seaweed?

A: Seaweed gives the fishy taste of the traditional fish balls.

Q: How long do fish balls last?

A: For this recipe, it’s best eaten immediately, but can last up to 3 days. To reheat, bake in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350F.

Looking for more vegan Filipino Recipes? Try these:

• Ginataang Kalabasa
• Grilled Eggplant with Coconut Milk
• Vegan Kare-Kare
• Pinakbet
• Vegetarian Bicol Express

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