Recipe courtesy of Ming Tsai

Chinese Fire Pot with Fish Balls

Getting reviews...
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Total: 1 hr 5 min
  • Prep: 1 hr
  • Cook: 5 min
  • Yield: 8 to 12 servings
This is the Chinese version of Swiss fondue, Korean BBQ, Japanese shabu-shabu, French raclette, etc. It is communal cooking and eating at its best. This recipe will create enough food for eight to 12 people, depending on appetite and cultural origin, i.e., we Chinese eat like there is no tomorrow. We would hate to leave this planet hungry!

Ingredients

You can add other seafood, meats and vegetables. This is what the Tsai family ate:

For the table, jars/small bottles of the following to make your own dipping sauce:

Fish Balls:

Directions

Special equipment:
Electric wok to keep cooking liquid boiling Small Chinese strainers Rice bowls and side plates Chopsticks Chinese spoons Spoons for all of the above condiments Huge appetite
  1. For the table, jars/small bottles of the following to make your own dipping sauce:
  2. Thread beef, chicken, shrimp, fishballs and scallops on wooden skewers and set aside. Combine water and chicken stock in an electric wok and bring to a boil. Add mung bean noodles, cabbage, bok choy and shiitake mushrooms. Place skewers in pot and cook according to individual taste. Ladle broth into bowls with skewered meats and seafood and serve with condiments.
  3. Fish Balls:
  4. In a food processor, puree fish with egg yolks until smooth. Add pepper, salt, sesame oil, fish sauce, and chilies; pulse processor a few times. Transfer mousse to a large, chilled bowl and fold in the scallions. Using a mixer, lift the egg whites to a stiff peak. Gently fold in the egg whites with the mousse. Cook a very small portion either in boiling water or in a microwave oven to verify seasonings. Using wet hands, make small balls (1-inch in diameter). Quickly blanch in salted boiling water for only 2 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.