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?

Heather

Cooked these in the air fryer instead of the oven, and highly recommend if you want them a little extra caramelized/crispy on the outside.

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

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Pork Meatballs With Ginger and Fish Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to firm meatballs? ›

Massage your meat

Get your hands into your mixing bowl and combine the ingredients for your meatballs using your fingers. The heat from your hands will help release the proteins in the meat which will in turn help the mixture stick together when it cooks. Don't overmix, just a few minutes will do.

Is it better to cook meatballs before adding to 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.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook in sauce? ›

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

What keeps meatballs moist? ›

Milk: Adds moisture and tenderizes the meat, making our meatballs juicy and tender once cooked. Egg: Adds more moisture and helps the mixture firm up once cooked. Parmesan: My secret ingredient for the best meatballs! Parmigiano-Reggiano adds flavor and salt to our mixture.

Is it better to pan fry or bake meatballs? ›

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.

How do you keep meatballs from falling apart when cooking? ›

The only way to prevent your meatballs from falling apart is to add some flour in the precooked seasoned ground beef. once you season the ground beef to your taste, you then add some flour, not too much but at least half of a handful.

What happens if you put too much breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

Using the wrong amount of bread crumbs (or flour)

Bread crumbs are another popular binder for meatballs that can become problematic if used incorrectly. Adding too many bread crumbs to the mix will cause your meatballs to become loose and fall apart. The same applies to flour.

Why are my homemade meatballs tough? ›

When meatballs are tough, it's often because they've been overworked. Start by thoroughly mixing all of the ingredients except for the ground meat. Once you add the meat, you want to work it only just enough so the ingredients are evenly distributed.

What is the trick to keeping meatballs together? ›

Bind but don't overwork

Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart. Try soaking your breadcrumbs in milk for extra moisture and fluffiness.

Is it better to cook meatballs in the sauce or the oven? ›

Letting your meatballs cook on the stove in a simmering sauce is the way to go. You'll end up with the most tender meatballs because as they simmer they soak up so much of that tomato sauce.

How long should you simmer meatballs in sauce? ›

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.

How long should meatballs sit before cooking? ›

Chill your meatballs: refrigerating your meatballs an hour before cooking helps them hold their shape throughout the cooking process. They can chill in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking, making meatballs a great make-ahead dish, too.

How do you make meatballs more solid? ›

I add ground pork (around 30%) to my meatballs to create a more solid meatball. And don't over add bread crumbs, too much of a good thing can make it fall apart. Sometimes, I add Italian sausage in place of straight pork.

What makes meatballs hard? ›

When meatballs are tough, it's often because they've been overworked. Start by thoroughly mixing all of the ingredients except for the ground meat. Once you add the meat, you want to work it only just enough so the ingredients are evenly distributed.

What binds meatballs together? ›

How to stop meatballs from falling apart. Making them with just meat and seasoning alone can result in the meatball becoming dry or falling apart during cooking. For this reason, many recipes will include a binding ingredient like egg, and a filler like breadcrumbs.

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