Pork Meatballs With Ginger and Fish Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Cameron

Absolutely delicious, but the meatballs need to be cooked a bit longer than the recipe prescribes. At 15 minutes, they were still raw in the center. I let them back for closer to 25, which resulted in perfectly cooked, juicy meatballs with a nice caramelized outer layer. Served over brown rice dressed with nuac cham and chopped cilantro.

CFXK

It seems that whenever there is a recipe calling for ground meat, the question is asked: can substitute ground turkey?.Of course you can. It's your meal. But keep a few things in mind:Fat content: this affects flavor and texture. Use ground turkey with higher fat content (not the super lean), and/or supplement with another fat.Doneness: ground turkey is unforgiving if cooked too long; loses taste and crumbles. Keep an eye on it.Flavor: turkey is bland. Amp up the herbs and spices

JT

Fish sauce in meatballs is revelatory! Simple, quick, and delicious. I made them about half the size (yield of 22), which made the cooking time spot-on. I used them in a quick pho (read: store-bought broth) and they certainly were the star of the meal! I added a pinch of chili flake and used panko instead of Ritz crackers. Next time I'll also add a little bit of cilantro to the mix.

Did a kind of Nuoc Cham sauce with it instead of the mayo sauce. To taste: rice vinegar, sugar, splash of rooster sauce, splash of lime juice, thin sliced red chilis and grated ginger. Great with the lettuce cups!

Did a kind of Nuoc Cham sauce with it instead of the mayo sauce. To taste: rice vinegar, sugar, splash of rooster sauce, splash of lime juice, thin sliced red chilis and grated ginger. Great with the lettuce cups!

Bnunley

Used almond flour instead of crackers/bread crumbs for a gluten free version. Added a drop of sesame oil to the top of each meatball before baking. Baked 25 minutes. Delicious with sriracha, sweet chili sauce, and kim chee, over rice and a green cilantro salad.

muddyboots

I made these with ground chicken as well as pork and they were delicious. I added chopped fresh cilantro as well. I also sauteed the chopped ginger, garlic and cilantro mixture a bit before I added it to the meat. It took the sharp edge off the flavor of raw garlic and ginger.

Mia

Would it be a fatal compromise to make this with ground turkey instead? We don't eat pork.

Allison Hauser

I make something very similar and grill them like burgers my family devours them. We have a pickled cucumber salad as a side dosh

Jesse

I added a splash of rice wine vinegar, the juice of one lime, and a squirt of Sriracha to the Mayo and sesame oil. Really helped brighten it up.

Erin

Really love the blueprint of this recipe - I used panko instead of ritz and added red pepper flakes and ground coriander as well as increasing the amount of fish sauce. They were a little salty, so next time I will omit the added salt, using only fish sauce. I found the meatballs to be tender, and the 15 meatballs I made cooked well in 15 minutes at 425. I flipped them at 10 minutes so both top and bottom could become delicious and caramelized.

Thomas Tearnen

Excellent recipe. We noted that about 22 minutes baking would be the perfect time. Also we wished we would have turned the meatballs at the halfway mark for more even browning. Served with rice and two dipping sauces: Sour cream, hot chili oil, sesame oil and cayenne pepper and fish sauce, sugar, water, lime juice and diced garlic. Garnished with cilantro.

Becky

There are organic versions of ritz- made by Late July. They taste very similar without the junk.

Cindy

For me, between the salt of the ritz crackers and the salt of the fish sauce, the extra 1/2 teaspoon of salt made the meatballs a bit too salty. But they came together quickly and were juicy and flavorful. I would make these again, just with less salt or omitting the extra salt altogether.

Shawna T

Made with panko instead of Ritz crackers and half the salt. I always bake meatballs in muffin tins. (Thank you, Alton Brown!) They were done perfectly in 15 minutes. Delicious!

Beth

Ritz crackers have partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. Is there a better option?

laurenb

Used panko and bread crumbs instead. 425 for 12 minutes then flip for another few

MM

Contrary to the top comment, my meatballs (I had 12 total) were overcooked even after only 15 minutes at 425.

JQ

The recipe picture shows chopped herbs on top but doesn’t list in the ingredients. I chopped fresh parsley and cilantro, folded it in the rice once cooked then sprinkled more on top of the assembled dish. I also made a sticky goji Chung sauce and finished the meatballs in the sauce once out of the oven.

Rosaline

Very good. Used bread crumbs since that’s what I had, added lemongrass and rolled meatballs in sesame oil as suggested by others. Phenomenal - even liked by my meatball adverse husband.

Esther

Thank you for this lovely recipe! Can’t think of a better way I could have used the ground pork in my fridge. I doubled the garlic, used galangal instead of regular ginger, crushed La Panzanella croccantini crackers (since we didn’t have Ritz or Panko), and made 12 meatballs that were rotated at the 10 min mark and were done at around 20 min. Dipped in a sauce of mayonnaise, sour cream, dill, lemon juice that I had on hand. Such a great payoff for a relatively simple recipe!

Katherine

I thought I had ground pork in the freezer, but it turned out to be lamb. I made the recipe anyway - still delicious!

Lisa

Very tasty! Used panko and sub'ed Accent for salt. Served with jasmine rice and salad. Might try this recipe for making Lion Meatballs....

Kris M

Panko instead of Ritz. These are better with better pork. The first time I made them, with cheap pork I assume, they were just 4 stars. Made them with high quality ground pork last night and they were INCREDIBLE! I made 16 meatballs - they were perfect at 15 minutes. Also, they reheated per the instructions beautifully. Pretty sure I would happily eat these EVERY day.

Jennifer Welsh

What a delicious and easy recipe! Wowzers. This will be on regular rotation at my house. Love love love. Added a little fish sauce to my rice. Zinger!

Karluita

Less salt

jess

My husband took one bite and then proceeded to tell me that I NEED to bookmark this recipe for our weekly staples. We made it with ground turkey. I added an egg and some crushed red pepper, otherwise followed the recipe to a tee. Served it with quinoa, and a side of cucumber and tomato salad with fresh mint. The perfect easy meal after a busy day at work!!

JS

Omit salt when using fish sauce, got too salty for me. I used hazelnut flour I had at hand instead of ritz crackers, still came out plenty juicy. In my next try, I will include more fresh herbs for crunch and lightness.

KC

Loved these. Followed tips here to cook for 25 minutes and turn halfway through. Used panko because I had it on hand, but otherwise followed the recipe as written. We loved the heat from the black pepper and the bite of the ginger.

Karen

Delicious. Easy and just yummy

Dena B.

Love this recipe. I have made it twice now and came out great both times. I typically cook meatballs for 25 minutes.

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Pork Meatballs With Ginger and Fish Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you cook meatballs before putting in sauce? ›

Adding raw meatballs to the sauce and gently simmering till cooked yields ultra-tender results, and infuses the sauce with meaty flavor—a slow cooker gives great results.

How to make meatballs that don t fall apart in sauce? ›

Here's how to make the perfect meatballs that won't fall apart when you cook them:
  1. Massage your meat. True story. ...
  2. Add breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Add egg. ...
  4. Don't add much apart from meat. ...
  5. Roll your meatballs in flour. ...
  6. Give your meatballs space. ...
  7. Shake your meatballs. ...
  8. Brown your meatballs first.
Mar 3, 2022

What are Vietnamese meatballs made of? ›

The Vietnamese (squished) meatballs are just made with pork, garlic, sugar, fish sauce*, salt, pepper and scallions/green onions. Fish sauce is the key seasoning here, and the touch of sugar that makes the surface beautifully caramelised.

Why do you put baking soda in meatballs? ›

Baking soda acts as a meat tenderizer by changing the physical composition of meat fibers. It raises the pH levels on the surface and makes it tougher (pun intended) for the proteins in the meat to bond.

Is it better to pan fry or oven bake meatballs? ›

I find that baking them and then finishing them in the sauce is the best method. Baking them ensures even cooking and browning as well as good flavor development. Throwing them into the sauce for a few minutes before serving flavors the sauce and keeps the meatballs moist and delicious.

Is it better to cook meatballs in oven or pan? ›

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior. Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

What is the secret to making tender meatballs? ›

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

Do you cook meatballs in sauce or brown first? ›

The meatballs are first browned on the stovetop, then finished in the oven. From here, the meatballs can be added to marinara sauce or frozen for later use.

What are Hawaiian meatballs made of? ›

Make the meatballs: Mix ground beef, ginger, garlic powder, and black pepper together in a large bowl until well combined. Shape into 1 1/2-inch balls. Sauté meatballs in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned, about 10 minutes.

Why are Vietnamese meatballs chewy? ›

Some of the Bò Viên brands you would find at Asian stores are very chewy due to the hàn the (borax) that is added. In oriental cooking, hàn the used as a cooking ingredient is to add a firm rubbery texture to the food, or as a preservative.

What is a Greek meatball made of? ›

Keftedes or Keftethes are meatballs from Greece. Depending upon the region and the person making them they can vary in spices, sauces, and the type of meat used to make them. For the most part they are a mixture of ground beef or pork infused with herbs and spices then lightly fried in olive oil.

What does adding milk to meatballs do? ›

When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

Do you rinse meat after baking soda? ›

Transfer the meat to a zip-top bag, stainless steel or glass bowl, or other non-reactive container, and refrigerate for 3 hours or up to overnight. Remove the meat from the container and briefly rinse the meat in plain water to strip off the baking soda solution (or as much of it as possible). Cook as desired.

What is the secret ingredient to tenderize meat? ›

Less than a teaspoon of baking soda ensures that your steak remains juicy and tender—even after a speedy marinade. While other recipes demand hours of marinating, this baking soda hack makes a flank steak or any other fibrous cut of beef ready to sear after just an hour.

Do you cook the meat before the sauce? ›

It is usually better to cook the ground beef first, then add the sauce. To that end you can use the same pan. Just brown the beef until it is, well, brown.

How long to simmer meatballs in sauce after baking? ›

Remember, you're not cooking the meatballs through so after 3-4 turns, pull the meatballs off and place them on a paper towel-lined plate. Step 5: Transfer the meatballs to the sauce and allow them to simmer for at least 1 hour. I usually allow them to simmer for up to 3 hours to really suck in all the flavor.

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