Sesame Shrimp Balls

Name: Sesame Shrimp Balls
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 egg white; 2 scallions, chopped (green part and half of the white); 1 cup panko bread crumbs; 2 tablespoons black sesame seeds; Roasted Garlic Aioli

•Posted: Sep 28, 2015•Updated: Feb 7, 2025

•Dan

•2 comments

★★★★★5 from 1 review

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Sesame Shrimp Balls are the most delicious seafood appetizer! Baked until crispy and dipped into a roasted garlic aioli. Serve these shrimp balls for appetizers or for dinner!

We love seafood recipes like these shrimp balls. Making seafood recipes at home doesn’t have to be expensive, and this recipe proves it!

Sesame Shrimp Bites with Lemon Aioli on a platter with lemon wedges

Why We Love Sesame Shrimp Balls

These sesame shrimp balls look like they came from a restaurant, but they didn’t and no one needs to know. Fresh shrimp mixed with ginger, garlic and scallions then baked until crispy. Then we’re dipping them in a homemade garlic aioli that’s totally addicting.

So versatile, you can serve them for appetizers or for dinner with a salad or french fries on the side. These shrimp balls even freeze really well, so go ahead and make a double batch!

Ingredients For Shrimp Balls

Shrimp: Buy them peeled and deveined to save time in the kitchen. You don’t need big shrimp here, so buy what’s fresh and on sale.
Garlic powder: Or use a clove of fresh garlic and add it to the food processor.
Egg white: Helps to bind the shrimp filling together.
Scallions: Adds a mild onion flavor that’s not too overpowering.

How To Make

The filling is easy to put together, everything goes into a food processor and after a couple of pulses you’re good to go. Like I said, just shrimp, scallions, and egg white to bind the shrimp balls together and a few seasonings.

Form the the shrimp balls about the size of a golf ball and then roll around until in a mixture of panko bread crumbs and black sesame seeds until they are completely coated.

Bake them in the oven until brown and crispy, then you can start making the aioli dipping sauce.

What Is Aioli?

Traditional aioli is made by emulsifying olive oil and lemon juice with a room temperature egg yolk. An American version of aioli tends to be a kicked up mayonnaise sauce, which is also delicious, and one that we find ourselves making the most.

If mayonnaise based sauces aren’t your thing, you can also serve these with cocktail sauce or even a warm teriyaki glaze. Or you can use our popular Homemade Stir Fry Sauce!

Can You Make This Recipe Ahead Of Time?

These shrimp balls are best right from the oven but if you have to get them done ahead of time, just make them and keep them in the refrigerator until about 20 minutes before you need them.

Take them out of the refrigerator and get them in the oven but give them an extra few minutes of baking time because they will be chilled from being in the refrigerator.

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