Fried Pasta Balls (in a Takoyaki Pan)

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   Gather your ingredients. Use the smallest, thinnest vermicelli you can find.

2. Step 2:

   

   Boil the vermicelli in plenty of salted water until tender, then drain it in a colander.

3. Step 3:

   

   Melt the butter and pour it into a large bowl where we'll mix the vermicelli.

4. Step 4:

   

   Add the vermicelli and eggs to the butter.

5. Step 5:

   

   Mix everything well.

6. Step 6:

   

   Here's what our takoyaki pan looks like. It's a real antique — over 20 years old! Don't judge it too harshly for its looks.

7. Step 7:

   

   Set the takoyaki pan on the stove. Like a skillet, it needs to get good and hot. Heat the pan, then pour a little oil into each well — just once; after that there's enough fat in the vermicelli mixture. Carefully spoon a dessert spoon of vermicelli into each well and let it fry. Nudge an edge with a fork — if it's set, it's ready to flip.

8. Step 8:

   

   Flip each one to the other side with a fork — they come out as balls. It's really simple. Fry until done.

9. Step 9:

   

   These are the pasta balls you get. Keep frying the rest the same way. Serve them hot — though they're tasty cold, too.

10. Step 10:

    

    Here's how the balls turned out — delicious with meat and with vegetables.

11. Step 11:

    

    Enjoy!