Fishball Skewers with Sweet Spicy Peanut Sauce

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Golden-fried fishballs served on skewers with a luscious peanut sauce that balances sweetness and heat, a beloved Filipino street food staple. This filipino-inspired street food ready in about 25 minutes pairs frozen fishballs, vegetable oil for frying, smooth peanut butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 5, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 5 Filipino cuisine 320 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 3 cups vegetable oil in a deep frying pan to 350°F.
  2. Step 2: Fry 20 frozen fishballs in batches for 4-5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
  3. Step 3: Thread 4 fried fishballs onto each of 5 wooden skewers.
  4. Step 4: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine 1/3 cup smooth peanut butter, 2 tbsp hoisin sauce, 1 tbsp sriracha sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, and 1/4 cup water. Stir continuously until sauce is smooth, warm, and slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
  5. Step 5: Serve the fishball skewers hot with the sweet spicy peanut sauce drizzled over or for dipping.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Fishball Skewers with Sweet Spicy Peanut Sauce take to make?

Total time is about 25 minutes (10 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Fishball Skewers with Sweet Spicy Peanut Sauce?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep frozen fishballs from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Fishball Skewers with Sweet Spicy Peanut Sauce?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Fishball Skewers with Sweet Spicy Peanut Sauce for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 5 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 5). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Fishball Skewers with Sweet Spicy Peanut Sauce?

Filipino street food like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

Related recipes