Monday 26 April 2021

Potaboy Traditional Handmade Sweet Potato Ball, Damansara Uptown

I have been passing by this light blue food truck practically every work day but I was never curious enough to find out what they were selling. I only noticed the name on the truck - Potaboy Traditional Handmade Sweet Potato Ball.


Somehow it did not pique my interest until I read eatwhateatwhere's post on Taiwanese Golden Sweet Potato Balls. Now, that got me very interested hee...hee...hee...


I reckon that Potaboy must be selling the same type of sweet potato balls. So I walked over to the truck (which is parked in front of a coffee shop, Restoran One One One) but they were not open yet. That was about 12:30pm.

I came back another day and I made sure to come later. But the guys were just setting up and I was told that it would take about 15 minutes before they were ready to prepare the sweet potato balls. 


So I came back much later and since they had sold off a batch, they prepared a fresh batch for me.


They already had a tray of the dough prepared and as soon as the guy fried that batch, his assistant started another batch. The dough is prepared in big blocks and cut to size.


I was lucky enough to witness how these sweet potato balls were fried.

I swear I can polish off the entire tray.

The guy heated up the oil in the big wok and when the oil was hot enough, he emptied the tray of pre-prepared dough.


Then there was a whole lot of stirring going on, which I reckon is to ensure that the balls were evenly fried and not stick together.


It was interesting that as time passed by, the dough inflated and the guy used a tool that looks like a perforated ladle to press the balls. He pressed very hard and the balls kept inflating.


Very soon, the wok was filled to the brim with the fried sweet potato balls. 


The guy fished the balls out with a large ladle and tossed to remove excess oil. Then he poured the balls onto a tray lined with a metal cooling rack.


Then he used a fan to cool the fried balls.


While all the frying action was going on, the assistant prepared another batch of dough.


I happily paid RM5.00 for 10 sweet potato balls and quickly walked back to the office.


They were still warm when I started eating. Ooohh! Very crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. I am amazed by how these balls are hollow. 


Which means that I am basically eating sweet potato balls and air hah...hah..hah....


These sweet potato balls are very addictive and trust me, 10 balls are not enough. 


The next day I went over to the Potaboy truck again and although it was already 1:30pm, the guy told me that they were late that day and it would take at least an hour before they were ready to fry. These guys are quite casual about their opening times.

But no worries, my office is nearby and I was so addicted that I walked over a couple of hours later.


This time I did not have to wait as they had a batch ready in the tray. I bought 2 packets which cleared off that batch. I gave one packet away (see I am not so greedy after all) and noted that I had an extra ball in my packet. The boys must have given extra to clear off all the balls in their tray.

I guess I will be stalking this truck for some days to come.


Help!

17 comments:

  1. Oops, sorry for enticing you with yet another good snack/food (I think the previous one was 4Fingers...lol) and turning you into a stalker! :O It must have been quite an eye-opener to see it made live. I was just amazed at how the balls puff up and get bigger. Yes, they use a perforated ladle to press the balls (the same one that one would use to fish out fried stuff but not the wire mesh kind as that won't have the weight to force/press the balls down). So I see this Taiwanese potato ball has been quickly copied by our locals (and called Potaboy, not sure who copied who first) since the truck is not the same one as the (possibly) franchised one.

    Well, I did say I can't guarantee that you'll be able to stop at 10...hah..hah...hah! :D I see yours come in either orange or purple, not mixed ones...and you get only 1 or 2 purple ones with each packet of 10 (so kedekut-lah but I reckon purple sweet potatoes are pricier than orange ones, that's why). Which one do you prefer? If I had a choice, I'd probably want more purple ones since I felt they had a bit more sweet potato flavour...but that's just me.

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    1. hah..hah.. this is all your fault! I am very amazed too how a dough that is dense can puff up like that. Whoever invented this is very clever. I have taken a break from 4Fingers because it is simply too expensive hah..hah...

      Yeah, somehow they fried more of the orange ones. I revisited your post and noted that the ones you had, they mixed the purple and orange dough. Hmmm... I can't remember which I preferred as I was too busy enjoying the balls. Let me take note on my next purchase hah...hah...

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  2. You got me interested in these sweet potato balls. I don't know if Potaboy is here in Ipoh, will have to keep my eyes open.

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    1. You might have these in Ipoh buy maybe not the Potaboy brand.

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  3. so you are addicted... I tried the other day and I still prefer our local ones, more potatoes and not hollow ones, makes one full faster! hahaha...

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  4. I love these. They sell them at one place selling Taiwanese street delights here but no, I am not going anywhere near there. It's in a mall...and the mall has appeared on the daily lists of places to avoid (places where positive cases have checked into via MySejahtera) quite regularly!!!

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  5. Ah, these look so good. Let me see when I can get to taste them. I think I need to buy a few packets as one packet won't be enough.

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    1. Yes, must buy more. They are still nice even after they have cooled down.

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  6. My BIL used to make frozen unfried potatoballs with cheese in it. I bought few packs in the past and deep fried whenever feel like snacking. These potato balls could be so addictive!!

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    1. The ones with cheese must be very popular among your kids. Me and cheese cannot mix LOL!

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  7. ok, i will take this post as a 'warning' that it is super addictive...not goin to touch/eat these balls at all!

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    1. LOL! Must try lah, if not you are missing out on something good!

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  8. Ah yes... there's a stall selling these too in a mixed rice shop near where I stay in now. Probably not the same brand, but same crispy on the outside hollow on the inside. I remember first time buying it was a few months ago, and upon the first bite I was cursing that I was scammed because I was expecting good old solid sweet potato balls.

    Now I'm going back for more, like once every week or two.

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    1. Ah! So you know how good these are in spite of the "air" inside the balls hah..hah... Luckily for me these guys don't start work so early. That way I can avoid buying when I go out for lunch. It's too mafan to come back some hours later.

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  9. You and Kris really make me eagerly want to have this potato balls!! I was amazed too when I made this sweet potato balls with hollow center at home by pressing them several times. :P

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