Prawn balls

Step 1

Clean the prawns by removing the black intestinal sack that runs down the back of each one. Very finely chop two-thirds of the prawns using a sharp knife (or blend to a paste in a food processor) and cut the rest into 1cm/½in cubes.

Step 2

Mix the oyster sauce, groundnut and sesame oil, salt, ginger and bamboo shoots in a large pestle and mortar to make a paste. Stir in the finely chopped and the cubed prawns. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for about an hour.

Step 3

Preheat a deep-fat fryer to 180C. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)

Step 4

To make the balls, shape spoonfuls of the prawn filling into 18 balls with lightly wetted hands. Put the sesame seeds in a bowl. Roll each prawn ball in the seeds to coat and transfer to a plate.

Step 5

Carefully place up to six balls, one at a time, in the hot oil. Cook for 3½–4 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through – the prawns will be completely pink when cooked. Cook the remaining balls in batches.

Step 6

Carefully remove the cooked prawn balls using a slotted spoon and transfer to kitchen paper to drain. Serve the cooked prawn balls with dark soy sauce or sweet chilli sauce for dipping.