Salmon Balls

The day started well. I was in the kitchen, ready to make Mister D.’s favorite dish: salmon balls. It is a simple recipe – made from a can of pink salmon, a smattering of curry powder, salt and pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, all bound together by a humble egg. These little globes of delight cradled in a soft dusting of flour, would surrender themselves to the caress of olive oil, hissing and sputtering their way to a gentle fry.

The day went sour fast when Mister D. entered the kitchen. He started arguing with me for no apparent reason. The rhythm of his words escalated, culminating in a fight of volcanic proportions. His anger was a storm, lashing out violently, seeking to choke the very breath from me. Like a rag doll in the grip of a furious child, he flung me out of the house. The worst part? He called the cops and made it look like he was the victim.

When the police got there and saw me outside, they took one look at me and knew what was up – my bruised neck was a testament that needed no words. They tried confronting Mister D., but he wouldn’t answer the door. “Stay safe,” they murmured,  hollow advice amidst the explosive situation.

After the police left, I went to the back of the house to get in. Mister D. stood by the screen door, eating those salmon balls I made with so much affection, like he didn’t have a care in the world. Watching how he chewed with his mouth open was disgusting, each chomp resonating through the air. He finished almost all the balls, not caring about how I might feel or that I hadn’t eaten anything.

My heart sank when the door finally swung open, admitting me back into the house. The leftovers of his feast were a testament to his callousness: a half-chewed salmon ball abandoned on the plate. It was an unspoken message, a cruel representation of his disregard for me, an omission of any appreciation for my efforts. His failure to leave anything for me, his silent dismissal devoid of gratitude, tore at the fabric of my heart more than any harsh words or physical altercation ever could.

Salmon Balls

Fried in olive oil, these balls offer a crispy exterior that gives way to a soft, flavor-packed interior.

Ingredients

• 1 can of pink salmon
• A teaspoon of curry powder
• Half of a green pepper, ½ red pepper. ½ onion, finely diced.
• Salt and pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• 1 egg
• Flour for dusting
• Olive oil for frying

Method

1. Open the can of pink salmon and drain the liquid.

2. In a bowl, combine the salmon, curry powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add the diced peppers and onions.

3. Crack an egg into the mixture and combine everything until well-mixed.

4. Take a portion of the mixture and shape it into a ball. Repeat until all the mixture is used.

5. Lightly dust each salmon ball with flour.

6. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.

7. Fry the salmon balls until golden brown on all sides.

• Images generated by Leonardo AI and DALL-E