fish balls
Rounded seafood morsels
Fish balls are a common food in East Asian cuisines—small round balls made from fish paste, often poached, fried, or added to soups and noodle dishes.
Street vendors in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia serve them on skewers.
The texture ranges from bouncy to soft depending on preparation: The fish balls bobbed in the curry broth.
Chinese small-plate tradition
- hotpotShared simmering broth meal
- noodlesBoiled dough strands
- brothClear simmered meat liquid
- congeeWatery rice porridge
wonton · dumplings · tofu · soy sauce · rice noodles · curry · skewer · soup
Pulverized fish protein product
- codCold-water food fish
- pollockAtlantic cod-family fish
- cuttlefishColor-changing cephalopod with internal shell
- mackerelSwift, oily ocean fish
tilapia · anchovy · milkfish · threadfin · eel · squid · shrimp · crab stick
Globe-like in form
- roundCurved like circle
- ovalElongated rounded shape
- flattenedMade smooth or level
- bite-sizedSmall enough for one mouthful
uniform · molded · rolled · golf ball · irregular · ping pong
Cut into tiny pieces
- poundedStruck hard, repeatedly
- bouncyTends to rebound
- springyAble to rebound
- chewyResisting easy biting
elastic · steamed · boiled · fried · grilled · poached · handmade · kneaded
Tends to rebound
smooth · elastic · resilient · snappy · succulent · soft · dense · gelatinous
Roving vocal merchant
- vendorOne who sells goods
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- skewerPointed cooking rod
- night marketOutdoor vendors after dark
deep-fried · takeaway · snack · food cart · food truck · bamboo stick · dipping sauce · chili sauce
dim sum
Chinese small-plate tradition
congee · wonton · dumplings · tofu · soy sauce · rice noodles · curry · skewer · soup · steamboat
surimi
Pulverized fish protein product
- codCold-water food fish
- pollockAtlantic cod-family fish
- cuttlefishColor-changing cephalopod with internal shell
mackerel · tilapia · anchovy · milkfish · threadfin · eel · squid · shrimp · crab stick
spherical
Globe-like in form
bite-sized · uniform · molded · rolled · golf ball · irregular · ping pong
minced
Cut into tiny pieces
chewy · elastic · steamed · boiled · fried · grilled · poached · handmade · kneaded · shaped
bouncy
Tends to rebound
firm · smooth · elastic · resilient · snappy · succulent · soft · dense · gelatinous · spongy
hawker
Roving vocal merchant
night market · deep-fried · takeaway · snack · food cart · food truck · bamboo stick · dipping sauce · chili sauce · street vendor
- fish cakessalmon cakes, tuna patty
- Asian Seafoodprawns, crab curry, prawn curry, chili crab, black pepper crab
- hot potshabu-shabu, sukiyaki, broth, tofu, napa cabbage
- street foodtacos, kebabs, skewers, satay, dumplings
- Cantonese fooddim sum, siu mai, char siu, wonton noodles, roast goose
- Ball Foodsmeatballs, falafel