The specialty food industry has introduced many fanciful foodstuffs, but until now there has been one glaring omission — the meatball. This overlooked, bite-sized food and its many round companions finally take centre stage in Angela Murrills’ new book Balls!.

Award-winning food writer Murrills offers up recipes for all kinds of balls, from Rye and Smoked Salmon Balls to Meatballs Osso Bucco to Black Bean Balls with Spicy Sauce. Balls! does not limit its interpretation of the round and tasty to the meatball. There are chapters on fish balls, vegeta-balls, fancy balls, sweetie balls and, of course, ball-istic cocktails. Along with recipes, Balls! offers up facts and anecdotes about all things round.

Discover how different nations have embraced this shape with its undeniable global appeal — from a classic French birthday cake to spicy Asian fishballs to the Italian meatball. Have a ball cooking up this simple yet scrumptious fare and learn a thing or two about all things round while you’re at it.