I’m really enjoying my air fryer for a variety of dishes. Recently I needed fried fish balls for a curry fish ball dish, so I tried air-frying frozen fish balls instead of deep-frying. The results were excellent: a crisp, golden exterior and far less oil. The only minor drawback was that the fish balls puckered a bit after cooling, but the flavor and texture remained very good.
If you like Chinese-style air fryer recipes, try my Crispy Wonton Chips next.
🥡 About This Recipe
This recipe shows how to air-fry Hong Kong–style fish balls, a beloved street food in Hong Kong. Fish balls are versatile: enjoy them on their own, fried, braised, with noodles, in hotpot, grilled, or added to soups and curries. Air-frying gives them a golden exterior and reduces oil compared with deep-frying, while keeping the inside tender.
For my test I placed one pound of frozen fish balls into a six-quart air fryer and cooked them at 400°F for about 20 minutes. They browned nicely and tasted great, with much less oil than deep-frying. They do puff up while cooking and then shrink slightly as they cool, which can create a wrinkled appearance, but this doesn’t affect the taste.
👨🍳 Frozen Fish Balls
Frozen fish balls need a little more time than fresh ones. Cook frozen fish balls at 400°F for about 20 minutes; fresh fish balls cook in roughly 18 minutes at the same temperature. To ensure even browning, shake or toss the basket every 3–5 minutes so all sides get exposed to the hot air.
🔪 Instructions
STEP 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the fish balls in a large bowl and toss them with about 1 tablespoon of neutral oil so each piece has a light coating.
STEP 2: Arrange the fish balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid stacking or overcrowding—the fish balls expand while cooking and need space for the air to circulate.
STEP 3: Air-fry frozen fish balls for 20 minutes and fresh fish balls for 18 minutes at 400°F. Every 3–5 minutes, gently shake or turn the fish balls to ensure even browning on all sides. Remove when golden and crisp.
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Fish Balls
Ingredients
- 1 pound fish balls
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
Instructions
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Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
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Toss the fish balls with a tablespoon of oil so each piece is lightly coated.
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Place fish balls in a single layer in the basket, avoiding overcrowding.
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Air-fry frozen fish balls for 20 minutes or fresh for 18 minutes, shaking or turning every 3–5 minutes until evenly browned.
Nutrition
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