Crab Rangoon Potato Balls

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb potatoes (boiled and mashed)
• 2 tbsp butter (for mashed potatoes)
• 2 tbsp milk (to loosen the potato mash)
• 8 oz imitation crab (finely chopped; real crab can be substituted)
• 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 green onions (sliced)
• 0.25 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 0.5 tsp sugar
• 0.5 cup all-purpose flour (for dredging)
• 2 eggs (beaten, for egg wash)
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (for coating)
• oil (for frying)
• sweet chili sauce (for drizzling and dipping)

Steps

1. 1

   Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and mash them thoroughly.

2. 2

   Add butter, seasonings (such as salt and pepper), and a tiny bit of milk to the mashed potatoes to loosen the consistency. Set aside to cool slightly.

3. 3

   In a separate bowl, combine the imitation crab (or real crab), softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sliced green onions, shredded mozzarella cheese, soy sauce, and sugar. Mix until well combined.

4. 4

   Take a portion of the mashed potatoes and flatten it into a patty in your hand.

5. 5

   Place a scoop of the crab filling in the center of the potato patty.

6. 6

   Carefully roll the potato around the filling to form a perfect, sealed ball.

7. 7

   Dredge each potato ball in flour until evenly coated, resembling a powdered donut hole.

8. 8

   Dip the floured balls into the beaten eggs, then roll them in panko breadcrumbs until fully covered.

9. 9

   Place the prepared balls in the freezer for about 30 minutes to firm up before frying.

10. 10

    Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer. Fry the potato balls until the outer shell is golden brown and crispy.

11. 11

    Drain on paper towels, drizzle with sweet chili sauce, and serve immediately.

Notes

Freezing the balls before frying is a crucial step to ensure they hold their shape and don't fall apart in the hot oil. You can substitute imitation crab with real lump crab meat for a more elevated version.

Nutrition per serving

• appetizer
• snack
• fried
• fusion
• potato
• seafood
• party food