Lion’s Head Meatballs in Broth

Recipe by: Mark Bittman | from The Best Recipes in the World

Cookstr

Course: Main Course

Total Time: Under 4 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

Photo by Joseph DeLeo

These Chinese meatballs are so named because of their large size. When served in the center of cabbage leaves, the dish resembles a lion’s head and mane; or at least that’s what they say. In any case it is an unusual, delicious dish that’s easy to make.

Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds boneless pork shoulder (butt or picnic), coarsely ground in a food processor or meat grinder
1 scallion, trimmed and minced
One 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon white pepper
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons corn oil, grapeseed oil, or other neutral oil
½ pound Napa cabbage, cut into 2-inch pieces
Salt to taste
1 quart beef or chicken stock, preferably homemade
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil, or to taste

Directions

1. Mix the first 8 ingredients together, just until combined, using your hands or a wooden spoon. Set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a large casserole over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage and stir-fry until softened, about 5 minutes, seasoning with salt. Add the stock and bring to a steady simmer.

3. With wet hands, form 4 meatballs with the pork mixture; handle gently. Slide the meatballs into the stock, cover, and simmer, undisturbed, until cooked through, about 2 hours.

4. Place the cabbage in a soup tureen and put the meatballs on top. Spoon the stock over the dish, season with sesame oil, and serve immediately.

VARIATIONS

Deluxe Lion’s Head. Add ½ cup chopped reconstituted wood ear mushrooms and ¼ cup chopped peeled, fresh water chestnuts (or peeled jicama) to the pork mixture.

Lion’s Head Pie. A kind of delicious meat loaf: Omit the cabbage and stock. Press the pork mixture into a large shallow dish. Steam over hot water until cooked through, about 1 hour.

Pearl Balls. You may have eaten these in a dim sum house: Omit the cabbage, stock, and sesame oil. Soak 1 cup glutinous or sticky rice in water for 1 hour, then drain. Form the meat mixture into 1-inch balls, then roll them in the sticky rice to cover. Place the balls in a steamer and cook until the meat cooks through and the rice puffs and becomes sticky, about 30 minutes. Remove and serve