Vietnamese Pork and Beef Recipes - Pork Meatballs Served with Salad Recipe

  
 

Pork And Beef Recipes - Pork Meatballs Served with Salad

Ingredients

PORK MEATBALLS:

  • 375g (3/4 lb) finely minced pork

  • 2-3 spring onions

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 2.5 cm (1 inch) piece fresh ginger, grated

  • 2 egg whites

  • 2 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp white pepper

  • 1 1/2 tbsp oil

SALAD:

  • 24 lettuce leaves

  • 24 rice papers, about 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter

  • 155g (5 oz) cooked rice vermicelli

  • bunch mixed fresh herbs (mint, daun kesom, basil)

  • 155g (5 oz) bean shoots

  • 1 small cucumber, about 12 cm (5 inches) long

  • 1/4 giant white radish

  • 1 carrot

  • 1 star fruit (optional)

SAUCE:

  • 60g (2 oz) roasted peanuts, crushed

  • 2 fresh red chili, chopped

  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped

  • 4 sprigs mint, chopped

  • 2 tbsp lime or lemon juice

  • 3 tbsp fish sauce

  • 3 tbsp sugar

  • 1 cup thin coconut milk

Method:

  1. PREPARE SAUCE FIRST: Pound peanuts, chilies and garlic to a reasonably smooth paste. Add chopped mint, lime or lemon juice, sugar and fish sauce. Stir in coconut milk and pour sauce into several small bowls. Set aside.

  2. NEXT PREPARE PORK MEATBALLS: Mince spring onions, garlic and ginger finely and mix to a smooth paste with pork and remaining ingredients. Form into walnuts-sized balls and put on a piece of muslin cloth over a steamer. Cook for 10 minutes over briskly boiling water. Remove from heat and set aside, keeping warm.

  3. Wash lettuce and dry leaves. Stack on a plate with rice paper which has been slightly dampened by wiping with a wet cloth. Cut vermicelli into 5cm (2 inch) pieces. break mint and other herbs into small sprigs, rinse and shake out water.

  4. Put on the plate with lettuce and rice papers. Steep bean shoots in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water. Drain again. Thinly slice cucumber and star fruit. Shred radish and carrot. Arrange vegetables and fruit on a serving plate.

  5. If a portable hot plate or barbecue is available, barbecue pork meatballs at the tables, other wise prepare salad plates and put on the table with the bowls of sauce. Sauté the meatballs quickly in a frying pan with a little oil. Take to the table while hot.

  6. Wrap one or two meatballs in lettuce leaf and rice paper sheet after garnishing with some of each of the vegetables and herbs. Dip into the sauce.