Sweet Potato Balls

These delicious, sweet, and chewy sweet potato balls are a staple Thailand walking-round snack that can be purchase from street vendors everywhere. Known here as Khanom Kai Nok Krata (ขนมไข่นกกระทา) because they are small like quail eggs, (khanom is a snack, kai nok krata are quail eggs) they are quite easy to make at home. The outside is crisp and a little like a donut, and the inside is like a soft and chewy candy that tastes like sweet potato. This recipe makes about 50 little balls, so you'll want to have someone around to help eat them, as they are best when eaten still a little warm.

Yield: 10

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 7 Minutes

Ready in: less than 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups Sweet potato
1/3 Cup Tapioca Starch
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/4 Cup All purpose flour
1 liter Vegetable Oil

Basic Directions:

1) Cook the sweet potatoes until soft, then mash or whip to get about 2 cups of mashed potatoes.

2) Combine mashed sweet potato with tapioca starch, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Stir together well until you have a thick batter.

3) Dust your hands with flour and roll 1 teaspoon of the batter into little round balls.

4) Deep fry the balls in vegetable oil for about 5 minutes. Allow to cool down some, then dust with powdered sugar. Serve while warm.