Ever feel light-headed or simply not in the mood to go out? Or feeling guilty about the previous heavy meal you just had? Then today you are in for a treat!
Our dish of the day is the simple yet elegant, Fish Ball Noodle Soup. Refreshing to the mouth, satisfying to the senses.
What is Fish Ball Noodle Soup?
Fish Ball Noodle Soup is a delicate combination of fish balls soaked in noodle soup. Just add some seasoning according to your taste, and we have a dish that is astonishingly simple yet amazingly delicious.
History of Fish Ball Noodle Soup
The unlikely combination between the two, fish ball and noodle soup has a diverse background and historical roots behind them. Still, their unison comes as naturally as adding sambal to your nasi lemak!
Fish balls are a dish from China, notably popular in southern China. They are made from fish paste and boiled in soup. History trivia: the first emperor of China, Qin Shihuang wanted his fish for every meal to be boneless. Eventually, this inspired his cook to roll the chopped fish meat into ball-like shapes and boil them in soup broth. This method was then adjusted and passed on across generations.
Noodle soup, on the other hand, is a dish typical among East and Southeast Asia. The formula for making the perfect soup and noodles varies depending on different countries. Still, the philosophy behind it can fill a book.
Though there is no exact record dating when and where these two unlikely ingredients got married in a recipe, but the amazing taste makes us glad that people started mixing these two together and the rest is as you say, history.
How to make Fish Ball Noodle Soup
A simple dish that is easy to cook and simple delighting your tastebuds. If you feel like staying home or simply at a loss for what to cook, fret not, fish ball noodle soup’s simple recipe will make you want to try it out now!
- The main ingredients are 50 g of ikan bilis (anchovies), about 12-16 fish balls, noodles (bee hoon/ tang hoon/ kueh teow etc), 3 lettuce leaves, fried shallots, onions, bird’s eye chili (cili padi) and water.
- Boil ikan bilis in 700 ml of water. Reduce heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. Cast aside the ikan bilis once done. Adjust the quantity of ikan bilis according to the level of saltiness that you prefer.
- Season the soup with salt, pepper or soy sauce until you get the desired taste.
- Continue to allow the soup to simmer on low heat. Add the fish balls and cook until they float on the surface.
- Cook noodles in a separate pot with boiling water.
- Once the noodles are done, separate the cooked noodles into serving bowls.
- Add the soup with fish balls into the bowls of noodles.
- Garnish the dish with lettuce, onions and shallots.
- You may enjoy the dish with cili paid and light soy sauce to add flavour, if necessary
Do note this is merely a simple recipe to make this dish. More detailed guidelines and instructions can be found online.
Nutrition Fact Sheet
Fitness aficionados look over here. We understand how foodie like you often find it hard to balance a healthy diet with addictive food all over Malaysia. So here is a fact sheet tailored just for you.
A bowl of Fish Ball Noodle Soup:
|
Calorie |
329 |
|
Carbs |
58g |
|
Fat |
3g |
|
Protein |
18g |
Where to find Fish Ball Noodle Soup in Malaysia
If you want something light but still satisfying then here are some suggestions of restaurants which serve fish ball noodle soup, just to give you a head start. Restoran B & Best (Petaling Jaya) is recommended, and you can find more at Hien Kee Fish Ball Noodle (Kuala Lumpur). Find more Chinese cuisine on foodpanda!