Lion's Head Meatballs is a classic Chinese celebration dish. Our recipe is succulent and flavorful, braised in a rich sauce.
359 kcal
/serving
40 min
Serves
8
Medium
Asian
Ingredients
- 1 lb fatty ground pork (450 g)
- 1 slice ginger (8 g, minced)
- 1 scallion (minced)
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp plain breadcrumbs (25 g)
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/4 tsp five spice powder
- 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 3.5 oz water chestnuts (100 g, canned)
- vegetable oil (to fry the meatballs)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 slices ginger
- 2 scallions (cut into 2-inch lengths, white and green parts separated)
- 10 g rock sugar (or 2.5 packed tsp brown sugar)
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 tsp cornstarch (mixed into a slurry with 1 tbsp water)
- 1/4 tsp sesame oil
- baby bok choy (for serving, optional)
Preparation
Not specified
Cooking
- Make the meatballs:.
- Make sure to find fatty ground pork.
- You can choose a fatty piece of pork shoulder and have the butcher grind it, or use our hand-chopping method to grind your own.
- A 70/30 meat to fat ratio is best, but 80/20 is also acceptable.
- Transfer the ground pork to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the minced ginger and scallions, egg, breadcrumbs, Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, white pepper, five spice powder, cornstarch, and water.
- Whip everything in one direction for about 10 minutes, until the meat mixture resembles a paste.
- This step is very important to making sure the meatballs have the right texture and don’t fall apart during frying.
- Smash the water chestnuts with the side of your cleaver or knife and finely mince them.
- Add to the meat mixture and continue to mix everything together for 5 more minutes.
- Use a rubber spatula to scrape everything together.
- Heat enough oil to submerge the meatballs in a small, deep pot (a small pot requires less oil) to 350 degrees F/175°C (350°F).
- Just be sure there’s enough oil to cook the meatballs evenly, but that the oil will not overflow during frying.
- With oiled hands, divide the meat mixture into 8 to 9 equal portions and shape each into a ball.
- Carefully lower the meatballs one at a time into the heated oil, and fry in batches (2 minutes per batch) until they’re evenly golden brown.
- Remove the par-cooked meatballs with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Make the sauce & braise:.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok over low heat.
- Add the ginger and white parts of the scallions, and cook for 1 minute.
- Then add the sugar and cook until dissolved.
- Add 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine, 1 ½ tablespoons light soy sauce, 1/4 teaspoon dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce and 1 ½ cup water.
- Stir and bring the liquid to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the fried meatballs.
- Cover and cook for 12-15 minutes over medium/low heat, flipping the meatballs halfway through.
- After simmering, there should be about ¾ cup liquid left.
- Remove the meatballs from the liquid and arrange on your serving plate.
- (I served these with blanched baby bok choy.
- Just add a teaspoon or two of vegetable oil to boiling water for that “shiny” look, and blanch for 30 seconds).
- Mix your cornstarch slurry, and pour into the sauce to thicken.
- Once it’s thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, stir in ¼ teaspoon sesame oil and the green parts of the scallions.
- Once the scallions are wilted, drizzle the sauce over the meatballs.
Plating & Serving
Not specified
Suggested Sides
Nutrition per Serving
359
Calories
11.6g
Protein
10% DV
9.8g
Carbs
3% DV
30.1g
Fat
39% DV
0.8g
Fiber
2% DV
2.3g
Sugars
361mg
Sodium
24% DV
64mg
Cholesterol
18% DV
| Diet Type | Low Carb |
| Health Labels | Sugar Conscious Kidney Friendly Dairy Free Milk Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Fish Free Crustacean Free Celery Free Mustard Free Lupine Free |
| Allergen Info | Gluten Wheat |
* Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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Recipe Details