Fish Ball Soup

Photo: flickr user eileen216

Ingredients

1 Spanish Mackerel

1 teaspoon tapioca flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 pound mustard greens (choy sum)

10 strands so hoon (fine transparent noodles)

inch must be soaked hot water for at least two minutes before using) (2 to 3)

1 teaspoon preserved cabbage

1 teaspoon oil

2 cloves garlic chopped

2 inches ginger sliced

1 teaspoon soy sauce

Pepper to taste

Preparation

Method:Clean and fillet the fish. Scrape off the flesh with a tablespoon. Knead the fishflesh well on a chopping board using the flat side of a kitchen knife until smooth.

Add tapioca flour and 1 tsp. salt and work it in with 4-5 tbs water until you get a soft and sticky paste. Wet your hands and shape the fish balls. Dip each ball in salt water before placing it on a plate. Wash the mustard greens and cut into 5 cm lengths.

Wash the preserved cabbage and soak the so hoon. Heat oil and fry the garlic until golden brown. Remove and set aside. Make fish stock.

Lightly brown the ginger slices and fry the fish bones and skin for 2 minutes. Add in 4 cups water and half tsp. salt. Simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the fish stock, return to saucepan and bring to boil. Add the fish balls.

When the soup boils, add the mustard greens, so hoon and preserved cabbage. Bring to boil again.

Remove from heat, season well with soy sauce, salt and pepper. Serve hot as a starter, garnished with the browned garlic.