Potato Ball

Potato ball is a savory food item usually consisting of round fried balls made of potatoes. These balls are considered to be comfort foods which can be relished at lunch or dinner or as appetizers or party foods. These balls are commonly prepared in many cuisines with stuffing of different ingredients.

The dish usually tastes crunchy from outside but has a soft and creamy flavor from within. The balls can be baked, fried or grilled. Spicy potato balls, cheesy potato balls and beef stuffed potato balls are some of the common varieties.

Preparation Overview of Potato Balls

Ingredients – The ingredients which are commonly used for potato ball recipe include potatoes, onion, carrots, black pepper, salt, yogurt and cheese. The choice of vegetable usually varies as per the taste. Meat is also included at times in the recipe.  Sour cream, cheese and butter are also used to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Method of Preparation – The potatoes are boiled and mashed for making the balls.  Once prepared, they are mixed with other chopped vegetables and spices. Round balls are prepared from the mixture. At times, these balls are filled with meat mixture or with cheese, mayonnaise or yogurt. The balls are then rolled in corn flour or semolina and then deep fried in heated oil until golden.

Serving Potato Balls

Potato balls are commonly served as dry foods along with dips. In Indian cuisine, these balls are accompanied by coriander chutney. These balls are served along with Aji sauce or salsa criolla in Peruvian cuisine. The dish also tastes well when paired with pepper sauce, chili sauce, mustard sauce or pickles.

Popular Potato Ball Recipe Variations

• Spicy Potato Balls – Potato balls in Indian cuisine are prepared by adding a lot of spices like cumin, mango powder, garam masala and green chilies. Chopped onion, carrots and peas are also added to the potato mixture to make the balls filling. The dish is usually served with chutneys and papads.

• Papas Rellenas – It is a Spanish term for stuffed potatoes and is a traditional dish of Peruvian cuisine. The potato mixture is prepared and filled with stuffing of chopped beef, onions, boiled eggs and olives. The balls are deep fried and served with sauces. The dish is also popular in Tampa and Miami where it is usually filled with picadillo.

• Khanom Kai Nok Kra –It is a name for the potato ball dish of Thailand. Usually available as a street food, these balls are crunchy in taste. The potato ball recipe usually calls for sweet potatoes and is served as a dessert. The balls are soft from within and are relished by people of all age group.

Nutritional Facts of Potato Balls

Potatoes which are used as the main ingredient for these balls are rich in vitamin B, potassium, iron, folate and magnesium. The calorie content of these balls is high as these usually consist of cheese, butter or sour cream and thus, should be eaten in moderation.