FIsh Ball Noodle Soup

While store-bought or ready-made fish balls offer convenience, homemade fish balls are a rewarding alternative. Making fish balls at home takes time, but it’s worth it. They are made 100% from fresh fish flesh and are completely free from preservatives. For this fish ball noodle soup, the fish bones and skin are for creating the fish soup (CANTONESE YEE MEE). 

This forms the foundation for a delicious homemade fish ball soup recipe. The rest comes down to additional ingredients: your choice of noodles, crispy fried shallots, and crispy fried basil leaves (or spring onions as an alternative). Pair it with the homemade spicy dip for an extra kick.

Fish Ball Noodle Soup is truly a comforting bowl (CHINESE HERBAL PORK SOUP) of homemade fish balls in a savory fish broth, garnished with fried shallots and basil leaves. It’s an ideal example of a delicious, wholesome home-cooked meal. 

Ingredients
For Fish Balls
2 medium-sized tenggiri/Indian mackerel (about 400g) - deboned and skinned
1 sprig spring onion, - thinly sliced
1/2 tbsp corn flour
Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Fish Balls

Process or pound the fish flesh until smooth.
Mix with spring onion, corn flour, salt, and pepper.
Wet your hands, pinch off small amounts of the fish paste, and roll them into tight balls.
Set aside.

For the Soup 
Fish skin and bones (from the fish) 
5 shallots - thinly sliced
4 sprigs basil leaves (or spring onion)
1 liter of water
4 tbsp oil
Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Fish Soup
Heat oil, and fry shallots till crispy. 
Remove and set aside.
In the same oil, fry basil leaves till crispy.
Remove and set aside. 

In the same oil, fry fish skin and bone for 2 to 3 minutes> 
Add water, season with salt and pepper.
Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes.
Strain the broth to remove the bones and skin, then return it to the pot.

Other Ingredient
Mee hoon - blanched in hot water to soften

Chili Dip

2 red chilies
1 green chili
2 garlic cloves
1/4 inch ginger
1/2 tsp sugar
Calamansi lime juice - per taste 

A pinch of salt

How to Make Chili Dip

Roughly pound or blend chilies, garlic and ginger.

Mix in sugar, lime juice and salt. 

How to Make Fish Ball Noodle Soup
Gently drop fish balls into simmering broth. 

Wait for the fish balls to float up. 

Scoop and put atop noodles.

Pour the soup as well. 
Garnish with fried shallots and basil leaves. 
Serve with the chili dip.