Nikudango Japanese Pork Meatballs 肉団子 Food

NIKUDANGO (JAPANESE PORK MEATBALLS) / 肉団子

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs (minus the oil) in a bowl and mix well.
• Take about 1 tbsp of the meat mixture and roll into a ball. Repeat until you use up all the meat (it will be about 24 meatballs). *TIP*: wet your hands periodically to keep the meat from sticking.
• Heat oil in a deep frypan or pot to approximate 350° F.
• Gently drop each meatball into the oil. Fry in batches (do not overcrowd( for about 3-4 minutes (or until browned and cooked through).
• Transfer to a mesh tray or onto paper towels to drain excess oil.
• For the sauce, add all the sauce ingredients (except the cornstarch/water combo) in a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat.
• When it starts boiling, reduce the heat on low and add the cornstarch/water mixture. Mix well until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat.
• Pour sauce over meatballs, toss, and serve!

ASIAN PORK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer the cabbage to a plate to cool. Wipe out the pan, then add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and the mushrooms. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to the plate with the cabbage to cool.
• Lightly beat the eggs and egg white in a large bowl. Add the pork, scallions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar and cornstarch. Add the cabbage, mushrooms and a few grinds of pepper and mix with your hands until just combined (do not overmix). Dampen your hands and shape the meat mixture into 18 balls (about 2 inches each); arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
• Make the sauce: Mix the hoisin sauce, Sriracha, vinegar, sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a bowl; set aside 1/2 cup for serving. Brush the meatballs with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake until cooked through, 18 to 22 minutes. Serve in lettuce leaves with the reserved sauce.

JAPANESE MEATBALLS IN SWEET SOY SAUCE (NIKU DANGO)

Steps:

• Mix together all the ingredients for the meatballs in a bowl. Knead the mixture until the ingredients are well combined. The beaten egg should give a stickiness to the rest of the mixture, holding it together.
• Take a small amount of the mixture -slightly less than a tablespoon) in your hand and mould it into a ball. Continue until the meatball mixture is used up.
• Fill a pan about one-third full of cooking oil. Heat oil to 350ºF and deep fry the meatballs until brown, about 5 minute (Turn meatballs halfway to ensure they are browned evenly.).
• Remove meatballs to plate lined with absorbent paper, to drain off excess oil.
• Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a pan. Mix them together over a low heat, stirring until the sauce has thickened.
• Add the meatballs to the pan and roll them around in the pan until they are all covered with the sauce.
• Pour the meatballs with sauce onto a serving plate and serve!