Mashed potato balls can be made in different ways. But in any case, such a dish turns out to be very tasty and satisfying. It can be served to the table in the form of an original snack and as an unusual side dish for meat. Today we will present two different cooking options, one of which involves frying in a pan in vegetable oil, and the other - baking in the oven.
Mashed potato balls: step by step recipe
To make such an original fried dish, it is necessary to prepare the following products in advance:
- coarse salt - add to taste;
- flavourless sunflower oil - 150 ml (for frying);
- small breadcrumbs - about 120 g;
- chicken eggs - 4 pcs.;
- potato tubers - approximately 1.3 kg.
Cooking basics
Mashed potato balls will turn out tasty and tender only if the vegetable base is uniform and without a single lump. To do this, peel the tubers, cut them in half lengthwise, put them in boiling salt water and cook for about half an hour until completely soft. Next, the broth must be drained, and immediately add 2 chicken eggs to the hot vegetables and thoroughly mash everything with a crush. As a result of such actions, you should have a rather thick, but homogeneous puree.
The process of forming and frying products
Before frying mashed potato balls, they should be properly formed. To do this, a thick base without lumps must be picked up in the amount of 1-2 dessert spoons. Further, you need to roll a neat and beautiful ball out of the mashed potatoes. After all the products are ready, they should be completely dipped in pre-beaten chicken eggs, and then carefully roll in breadcrumbs.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the formation of such semi-finished products. After they are completely ready, it is necessary to pour the sunflower oil into a deep stewpan and heat it strongly. In conclusion, in a boiling oil, you need to put all the mashed potato balls. Carefully turning them over with a spoon or spatula, you should achieve complete redness, after which the dish must be laid out on paper napkins, thereby depriving it of fat.
Proper serving
It is recommended to serve fried potato balls to the table as a snack or side dish only when hot. On top of them you can sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs, as well as pour a thin stream of ketchup or mayonnaise. Enjoy your meal!
Cooking a similar dish in the oven
Potato balls in the oven are just as tasty and satisfying as fried in sunflower oil. However, this dish is less fatty and high in calories. In this regard, it is recommended to do it to those who especially monitor their figure.
So we need:
- coarse salt, ground allspice - add to taste;
- flavourless sunflower oil - 20 ml (for greasing of a baking sheet);
- small breadcrumbs - about 120 g;
- hard cheese - 75-80 g (add as desired);
- chicken eggs - 2 pcs.;
- potato tubers - approximately 1.4 kg.
Foundation preparation
Such balls are prepared in the same way as described above. However, there is still a difference in the creation of these unusual products. Thus, you should peel potato tubers, boil them in salt water, and then drain the broth, pepper, add fresh chicken eggs and crush into a homogeneous and airy mashed potatoes using a kitchen device such as a blender.
Shaping and baking products
Until the mashed potatoes have cooled completely, small balls should be formed from it. To do this, you need to take 1.5 or 2 dessert spoons of a vegetable base in your hands. Next, the miniature kolobok must be rolled from all sides in small breadcrumbs.
After all the semi-finished products are ready, they should be placed on a large baking sheet, which is recommended to be lubricated with sunflower oil in advance. If desired, a thin plate of hard cheese can be laid on top of each ball. In this composition, the product must be placed in a hot oven, where it is desirable to withstand at least 20 minutes. During this time, the balls are covered with a golden brown crust, and the cheese will melt and flow beautifully throughout the potato kolobok.
After 20 minutes, the dish should be carefully laid out on a large plate with a spatula or flat spoon.
How to present to the table?
Potato balls made in the oven must be served to guests only when hot. In addition to them, you can bring fried or boiled meat, poultry, goulash or a salad of raw vegetables.
Useful Tips
It should be especially noted that such products will turn out to be much tastier if their base will consist not only of potato tubers and eggs, but, for example, of sautéed vegetables (onions, bell pepper and carrots), aromatic spices, fried mushrooms, finely chopped olives or olives, ham and other ingredients.