Pork Meatballs With Ginger and Fish Sauce

By Kay Chun

Updated July 26, 2020

  • Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
20 minutes
Rating
5(6,355)
Comments
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These nuoc cham-inspired meatballs are perfect to fill lettuce cups topped with fresh basil or cilantro. (Add steamed rice for a more substantial meal.) The Ritz crackers here make for a juicier meatball, but feel free to substitute plain dry bread crumbs. To make the Ritz crumbs, place the crackers in a resealable plastic bag and lightly crush them with the back of a wooden spoon or measuring cup. For an easy dipping sauce, spike ¼ cup mayonnaise with 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil or soy sauce. And save any leftover meatballs: They're great simmered in chicken broth the next day. The ginger and garlic in them release their aromatics into the broth for a deeply flavorful soup base.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 2 tablespoons peeled and minced ginger

  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (from about 3 large cloves)

  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ½ cup finely crushed Ritz crackers (12 crackers)

  • 1 pound ground pork

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

8 grams carbs; 82 milligrams cholesterol; 356 calories; 11 grams monosaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 26 grams fat; 505 milligrams sodium; 20 grams protein; 1 gram sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and use your hands to gently mix.

  2. Step 2

    Shape the meat into 12 golf-ball-size rounds (about 2 inches in diameter) and arrange on a greased rimmed baking sheet.

  3. Step 3

    Bake until golden and cooked through, about 15 minutes. Serve warm.

Tip

  • Leftover meatballs freeze well and can be reheated in the oven at 375 degrees until warmed through (about 20 minutes).

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Ratings

5 out of 5
6,355 user ratings
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Comments

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

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!

Patti

Addendum. I used heritage pork and the convection setting in my oven. A nice outer crust and juicy and flavorful inside.

Patti

Easy. Delicious. As other posters recommended, I drizzled drops of toasted sesame oil on the meatballs. Served with blanched Chinese broccoli from our local farmer’s market and steamed white rice. A little tamari and squeeze of lime juice over everything. Simple and delicious!

M/R Cooper

Just ok. Followed all the instructions. Even brushed with toasted sesame oil and flipped halfway. Just not enough flavor. Served with all the accompaniments ….cilantro, mint, cucumber, carrot curls, rice, Kim chee, Serrano pepper, rice paper rounds, chili garlic sauce. More. Pork just not flavorful enough. Used prime pork ground that day. Still, we didn’t love it.

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