Potato Oatmeal Tuna Balls

I think I mentioned this before, I LOVE looking at recipes. However, with so many recipes available, both online and in print, it's hard to try all due to my hectic schedule. So I prioritize which to try first. Most of the time the easier ones, with ingredients readily available.

Saw this recipe in a recipe book at Popular bookstore and immediately decided to try this dish because it is just so easy! I also have some oatmeal cereals at home and it's just the perfect dish to help use up the oatmeal.

Here's the recipe...

Potato Oatmeal Tuna Balls (Makes 20 balls)

300g potatoes
1/2 can tuna chunks (about 92g)
1/4 cup corn
1/2 small red onion, diced
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 cup oatmeal
1 tbsp mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste
Oatmeal (for coating)

For the dipping sauce (Mix well):

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
sugar and salt to taste


Directions

Boil potatoes in boiling water for 20 mins. Coarsely mash potatoes with a fork.

Pre-heat oven to 200 degree Celsius.

Mix remaining ingredients (except the oatmeal for coating) with the mashed potato and shape mixture into balls.

Coat the balls evenly with oatmeal.

Bake the potato balls for 15 mins or until golden brown.

Serve with dipping sauce.

Note: I did not credit the author of the recipe because I did not purchase the book but did the dish based on my memory of the recipe. I shall re-visit the bookshop soon and shall note down the author's name and book title for credits. Thanks!

Caramelized Onions

Caramelizing onions brings out their amazing natural flavor. The process is very simple and they are fantastic on sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, over pastas, in soup, on meat, fish and egg dishes. Best to be used to adorn appetizers platters as well. Many a times, they simply becomes an important part of a dish that just gives that oomph! feeling.

You can caramelize any types of onions. Some just caramelize more quickly than others.

Here's how to do it...

Caramelized Onions

Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com

1 medium onion

3 tbsp cooking oil or butter

a pinch of salt

a pinch of black pepper (Optional)

a pinch of sugar (Optional)

Directions

Slice the top off of your onion. Cut into half and peel it.

Slice the onion into half-rings. The thickness of the slices is not important although the thinner slices will cook faster. If you prefer something rustic look and feel, make the slices very thick.

Heat a large saucepan or frying pan with the oil or butter until medium-high temperature. Note that butter burns more easily so make sure the pan doesn't get too hot.

Add the onions to the pan and stir until the onions are coated with the oil.

Add a pinch of salt to season the onions and at the same time speeds up the caramelizing process. If you like, add the pepper and sugar at this point as well.

Continue stirring. The onions' color will start to turn darker after a minute or so and may begun to stick a little to the bottom of the pan.

If the onions are sticking to the bottom too much, add a very small amount of water, broth or wine to deglaze it.

Continue until the onions reached the color, flavor and texture you desire.