Vietnamese Meatball Pho Food

VIETNAMESE MEATBALL PHO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Heat oil in Dutch oven or small stockpot on medium-high heat. Add steak slices; cook 4 min. or until done, stirring frequently. Add 1 gal. water, bouillon, soy sauce, ginger, onion powder, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves and anise; mix well. Bring to boil; simmer on medium-low heat 30 min., stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, mix ground beef, stuffing mix, crushed red pepper, garlic powder, and remaining water just until blended. Roll into 40 meatballs, using about 2 tsp. meat mixture for each meatball. Place on parchment-covered rimmed baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 min. or until done.
• Remove and discard anise pod from ingredients in Dutch oven. Add meatballs; stir. Return to simmer, stirring occasionally. Serve over noodles.

VIETNAMESE BEEF BALLS - (THIT BO VIEN)

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, mix the fish sauce, potato starch, baking powder, sugar and white pepper.
• Slice the meat into 1/8-inch-thick pieces.
• Add to the marinade and mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
• Before proceeding, transfer the meat to the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Work with half of the beef at a time; do not overload the work bowl.
• In a food processor, combine half of the beef with half of the garlic and sesame oil.
• Process to a completely smooth but stiff paste, about 3 minutes.
• Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the work bowl.
• The completed paste should spring back to the touch.
• Transfer the paste to a bowl.
• Process the remaining beef, garlic and sesame oil the same way.
• Rub some vegetable oil on one hand, and grab a handful of the meat paste and close your hand into a fist, squeezing out a small portion of the mixture, about 1 teaspoon, between your thumb and index finger.
• Keep rolling and squeezing the same portion between your thumb and index finger until you obtain a smooth rounded ball.
• Scoop out the meatball with an oiled spoon, and repeat until all of the paste is used.
• Pour 1 inch of water into a wok or wide pot, place a steamer rack or bamboo steamer over the water.
• Arrange the meatballs without crowding in a single layer on the rack.
• Cover and steam for 5 minutes.
• Serve as an appetizer with chili sauce.
• These beef balls can also be added to a well-seasoned beef broth, sprinkled with chopped scallions and white pepper and served as a soup (noodles may be added).
• Note: These meatballs may be frozen.
• Thaw them thoroughly, then steam or simmer in boiling water until just heated through.