Hakka Yam Abacus 算盘子

I will buy this dish whenever I see there is one selling it. The feel of munching an elasticity and juicy yam abacus balls is why I enjoy this dish so much.

Saw the recipe at Precious Moments many months ago and I told myself at that point of time, I want to try it out. Then saw it again last month at 鲸鱼's blog, and again at I Heart My Bakes. Eventually make my move because of the step by step photos at I Heart My Bakes look easy to prepare.

Oh my! This is delicious! Thanks Edith from Precious Moments, for the details in spelled out the steps.

For the recipe in Chinese, you may refer to 鲸鱼's blog.

Pretty soft yam ball ladies waiting ...

Forgot to add fried shallots while snapping the dish...

Recipe adapted from Precious Moments 

Ingredients for yam balls:

490g steamed yam, mashed
150g tapioca flour
1 tsp salt
1 cup of hot water
2 tbsp oil

Ingredients for stir-frying the yam balls:
3 clove garlic, minced
3 shallot, sliced
4 tbsp dried shrimp, soaked and chopped
250g minced meat (used 100g)
3 mushroom, soaked and sliced thinly
6 black fungus, soaked and sliced thinly


Seasoning:
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp dark soy sauce
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp sesame oil
salt to taste (omitted and used 1 tbsp light soy sauce)
1 cup water

Steps:
1. Mix all ingredients together and knead till the dough is smooth. Make sure the flour is well incorporated.
2. Divide into 5g each and roll into a ball. Press your thumprint for the imprint. (I didn't weight the balls, just made them into thumb size balls)
3. Boil a pot of water, add a dash of oil.
4. Add the abacus piece by piece to prevent it from sticking together.
5. Once it float, it is cook. Drain and put into a bowl and add 1 tbsp of oil to prevent it from sticking.
6. Heat some oil and saute shallot and then garlic till fragrant.
7. Add in dried shrimps and continue to fry till fragrant.
8. Add in minced pork, mushroom, black fungus and fry till everything is thoroughly mixed.
9. Add in seasoning and bring to boil.
10. Add in the abacus and stir fry till the liquid dried up.
11. Garnish and serve hot.