For this month's 10 ___To Try Before You Die, we compiled our favorite spherical foods from around the globe. Check it out and share your favorites with us in the comments section below...
We're big fans of these fried rice balls which are said to have originated in Sicily. They're usually filled with ragù, tomato sauce, mozzarella and/or peas. Bonus points for portability. See where Arancini has been spotted near you.
Before cake pops popped up in Starbucks last spring, savvy sweet tooths were already buzzing about the icing coated balls of cake on popular blogs like Bakerella. For a while they were touted as "the new cupcake" and while we haven't seen them go gangbusters just yet, these lollipop-like confections win hands down in the cute category. See where Cake Pops have been spotted near you.
Think doughnut holes come from the center of doughnuts? Think again. According to Wikipedia... "Commercially made ring doughnuts are not made by cutting out the central portion of the cake but by dropping a small ball of dough into hot oil from a specially shaped nozzle. However, soon after ring doughnuts became popular, doughnut sellers began to see the opportunity to market "holes" as if they were the portions cut out to make the ring. In Canada, due to the popularity of Tim Hortons, doughnut holes are often referred to [as] TimBits." See where doughnut holes have been spotted near you.
Æbleskiver are Danish pancakes with a distinctive ball shape and commonly served before Christmas in Denmark. Though not sweet themselves, they are served filled or dipped in raspberry, strawberry, lingonberry or blackberry jam, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. See where ebleskiver has been spotted near you.
5. GLUTINOUS RICE BALLS (China)
Our friends at Serious Eats say..."A popular snack all over China, glutinous rice balls (tang yuan) are filled with red bean, sesame, peanut, and other sweet fillings that ooze out from mochi-like dumplings skins. The dumpling skins owe their pleasantly gummy texture to glutinous rice flour, which produces a chewier dough." Sticky rice balls are among our CEO Alexa's favorite balls! See where tang yuan has been spotted near you.
Gulab jamuns are an Indian speciality. Served as a dessert, these spongy balls are made from milk solids and flour which is deep fried and served soaked in rose-scented syrup. See where gulab jamuns have been spotted near you.
Matzah ball soup may be most popular in the spring around Passover, but we tend to dig into this traditional Jewish soup whenever we find it on a restaurant menu and especially when it's cold out. Matzah balls are considered dumplings and are best enjoyed in a bowl of chicken broth. Veggies: Optional. See where matzah balls have been spotted near you.
When you envision "ball-shaped foods," meatballs are probably the first thing you think of. All meatballs deserve credit for inspiring our obsession with balls at Foodspotting, so instead of trying to mention them all here, check out the fascinating - and long - list on Wikipedia. Did you know meatballs are called almondigas or bola-bola in the Philippines? See where meatballs have been spotted near you.
Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice that's pounded into a gummy paste and molded into different shapes. They come in sweet and savory varieties, and can be dyed any color. While eaten all year round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. We love it filled with ice cream! See where mochi has been spotted near you.
"Takoyaki is the small round cousin of okonomiyaki, and like okonomiyaki it originated in Osaka. It’s basically a flavored batter with a tiny piece of octopus (tako) inside, and is a quintessential street food snack."
- Just Hungry
See where takoyaki has been spotted near you.
There you have it: 10 Balls To Try Before You Die. Honorable mentions include, but are not limited to: fish balls, tapioca balls, mozzarella balls, "Beaver Balls", chocolate truffles, falafel (thanks for reminding us about this one!)...
What other ball-shaped foods do you like? Which ones are we missing?
While we love balls, this post could not have happened without the wealth of information found on sites like Wikipedia. - AC
