Chicken ball is a savory food item consisting of small round dumpling which is made using chicken as one of its main ingredients. A popular non-vegetarian dish of East Asian countries, chicken balls are also popular in American and European countries where they are often relished as appetizers. Chicken balls make an interesting party or picnic food and can be eaten dry or with gravy. Some of the common methods of preparing them include frying, grilling or simmering. Tsukune is a popular Japanese chicken ball dish.
Preparation Overview of Chicken Balls
Ingredients – The ingredients suggested by a standard chicken ball recipe include ground chicken, onion, cheese, cloves, ketchup, whisked egg, and fresh basil sprigs. The actual choice of ingredients, apart from the meat, usually varies according to the chicken ball recipe followed. Tomatoes, peas, and other vegetables are also used at times for making the dish. The seasoning and the sauces also differ as per the personal choice. Vinegar is sometimes included to make chicken balls in gravy.
Method of Preparation – The vegetables for the dish are chopped finely and the cheese is grated in advance. All the ingredients including ground chicken are mixed in a bowl. Once a firm mixture is formed, balls are prepared and fried in heated oil . Once golden brown, the balls are drained on kitchen towel and served.
Serving Chicken Balls
Chicken balls are usually served warm, garnished with basil or with lemon wedges. When served with a main course, the dish is served topped with sauce of choice and is paired with steamed greens or crisp potatoes. These balls are often served topped on spaghetti along with tomato sauce. When eaten as an appetizer, chicken balls are served along with dips of choice. The dish also tastes good as a barbeque food and is served basted with hot sauces.
Popular Chicken Balls Recipe Variation
- Chinese Chicken Balls – Chicken balls are popular in Chinese cuisine and are usually prepared in sweet and sour sauce. These balls consist of breaded and deep fried chicken pieces and the balls in the dish are not perfectly round. These sweet and tangy balls have approximately 162 calories and can be stored in refrigerator for three to four days.
- Tsukune- Tsukune is a name for Japanese chicken balls. The balls can be prepared by grilling or by frying. Ginger juice, garlic, ground chicken, soy sauce, salt, pepper and cornstarch are the main ingredients used for preparing Tsukune. These dumplings are usually round or oval in shape and are often relished with steamed rice or cold beverages.
- Thai Chicken Balls – Mostly served as starters, these balls are prepared using ground chicken, fish sauce, oyster sauce, coriander, coconut milk and seasoning. The balls are usually served with soy sauce or sweet chilli sauce. Thai chicken balls are usually baked.
- Chicken Keema Kofta – It is a popular dish of Indian cuisine and is eaten as a main course dish in various parts of India. This recipe for this chicken ball includes keema or minced meat, chopped vegetables, herbs and spices. The balls are usually fried and served in tomato and onion gravy along with steamed rice or Indian breads.
