Ingredients (Serves 2)
Nagaimo (Japanese mountain yam): 300g
Onion (finely chopped): 1/4
Half-length bacon slices (finely chopped): 4
Vegetable oil: 1 tsp
Salt: 1/4 tsp
Pepper: To taste
Pizza cheese (shredded): 30g
[A] Cake flour: As needed
[A] Egg: 1
[A] Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs): As needed
Frying oil: As needed
Instructions
① Peel the nagaimo and cut it into 2–3 cm thick pieces. Place in a heat-resistant bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and microwave at 600W for 3.5 minutes. Mash coarsely while still hot.
② Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat and add the onion and bacon. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent, then season with salt and pepper.
③ Add the mixture from step ② and the pizza cheese to the mashed nagaimo from step ① and mix well. Divide the mixture into 10 portions and shape them into balls. Coat each ball in the [A] ingredients in this order: cake flour, beaten egg, and panko.
④ Pour frying oil into a deep pan to a depth of 2 cm and heat to 170°C. Fry the balls until golden brown, and they are ready to serve!