
With the days finally getting a bit cooler, it feels it’s time to start cooking warmer dishes. However, it’s still not really cold enough for heavier and heartier dishes, so I’ve decided on meatballs with a relatively light sauce.
The meatballs are loaded with Asian inspired flavors, from lemongrass, ginger, Hoisin and soy sauce – to Korean Gochujang paste. Once baked for a short time, to firm them up, they are cooked in an aromatic, slightly spicy, sweetish-savory coconut milk and peanut butter sauce, which complements them beautifully.
Served with steamed broccolini, the meatballs are perfect for a light lunch or dinner. They can also be served on a bed of rice, or rice noodles. Try them and enjoy.
Notes:
* Chicken thighs can be used instead of the pork.
* Peppadew are pickled peppers, about the size of a cherry tomato, with a mild sweet and spicy flavor. They are available in specialty stores or online.
* Gochujang paste is a Korean spicy-sweet paste. Note that it varies in texture and spiciness from one brand to another. I’ve used Bibigo’s brand in squeezable bottle, which has smoother texture than most types.
* Curry powder mixes vary substantially from one another. Here I’ve used “S&B oriental curry powder”, which is a Japanese brand.
Makes: 4-6
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
For the meatballs:
1.375 lbs (625 grams) pork loin fillet (see notes)
1 Tbs fresh ginger, finely grated
1 Tbs finely chopped basil
1 Tbs finely chopped cilantro
5-6 mild Peppadew peppers (see notes)
2 scallions, roughly chopped
2 Tbs soy sauce
½ tsp Sriracha sauce (or any other hot sauce)
2 tsp Gochujang paste (see notes)
1 Tbs Hoisin sauce
1 tsp salt
½ tsp freshly ground four peppers mix
1 tsp lemongrass paste
¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs
¼ cup plain breadcrumbs
For the sauce:
1 can (13 oz/370 ml) coconut milk
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs rice wine vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 Tbs brown sugar
2 Tbs unsweetened creamy peanut butter
2 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
2 tsp finely chopped basil
2 tsp finely chopped cilantro
2 tsp lemongrass paste
2 tsp Gochujang paste
1 Tbs Japanese curry powder (see notes)
- The meatballs: cut the meat into medium size cubes and place in a food processor, fitted with the metal blade. Add the ginger, basil, cilantro, peppers, and scallions, and process until finely minced.
- Transfer to a medium bowl. Add the soy sauce, Sriracha, Gochujang paste, Hoisin sauce, salt, pepper, lemongrass paste and breadcrumbs, and mix well. Cover and keep in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- Preheat a toaster oven to 400F (205C). Create 22 medium size balls from the mixture. Place on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes.
- The sauce: meanwhile, mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a medium bowl. Using a hand blender, blend until smooth. Pour into a wide pot, and cook over medium-high heat until the sauce is on the verge of boiling, mixing occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add the meatballs, in one layer. Cook for about 40 minutes, tilting the pot occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the meatballs are cooked through. Serve warm.
Dear Ronit, the peanut butter and curry sauce sounds irresistible!
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Thank you Luisella, I’m glad you liked the recipe. This combination is one of my favorites. 🙂
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That sounds perfect to me! I’ve never made pork meatballs processing the meat myself, and now I really want to try it
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It’s been a “this and that” type of dish, but all worked so well together. Hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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In my house I can’t use pork because of my husband’s dietary, but I always think pork meatballs are best!! 😃
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There are always tasty substitutions – ground chicken thighs or veal can work very well instead. 🙂
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Looks delicious!
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Thank you! 🙂
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This looks and sounds sensational.
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Thank you Peggy, I’m glad you liked the recipe. All these ingredients worked so well together. it’s a keeper! 🙂
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This is a home run for me. I would swap out the pork, but the spices, the addition of the Gochujang paste, and the dreamy sauce are all on my list of delights! That sauce could be used on so many things Ronit, it’s definitely a keeper!
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Thank you Dorothy, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It’s been a “this and that” type of dish, but it all worked out so well, it was worth documenting. It is indeed a keeper! 🙂
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Those are often the best recipes! So glad you wrote it down.
I made an incredible marinade for some seafood kebobs we planned for a camping trip. I was in a rush, and just dumped a bunch of stuff in a zip lock bag, including some cocoa powder. They marinated all the way to the campground and through until dinner, and they were so incredible, our friends called them “shish keDots au chocolat.” Since my name is Dot and not Bob.
Well, to this day, I have no idea what I put in that baggie and haven’t been able to replicate the recipe! Write it down!!!!
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lol This sounds so very familiar! I’ve also learned my lesson, though too many times, when in a rush, I unfortunately still neglect to.
The marinade must have been amazing, if your friends named the dish after you!
I’ve used cocoa powder in my chili con carne, but never with seafood. I’m now very intrigued! 🙂
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I know I tucked a bunch of olive oil in the bag first, some hot sauce, crushed garlic, and then I was directing the car packing from my spice rack and pantry and not really paying full-brain attention to what I put in the bag. Sigh!
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It’s just another reminder that cooking is a highly perishable art. At least we have good memories! 🙂
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I love this combination so much.
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Thank you Paul. It’s one of my favorites as well. 🙂
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These sound delicious as always, Ronit…I cannot get peppadew peppers here any ideas on a substitute?
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Thank you Carol, I’m glad you liked the recipe.
I would suggest trying any other mild pickled peppers instead of the Peppadew. Hope it helps. It will be interesting to see your version. 🙂
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Google suggested pimentos and a little honey I will see what I can find here…Thank you, Ronit 🙂 x
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Sounds good. Hope it will work well. 🙂
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Meatballs are one of those dishes I seem to have a lot of recipes for and now I have one with Asian flavors. Your sauce is very interesting and I am sure it’s a perfect match with those meatballs.
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Thank you Judi, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I usually use Mediterranean flavors with meatballs, but this time wanted something different. It worked really well, so I’m now inspired to experiment more in this direction. 🙂
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What a treat for the palate. 😋🍂
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Thank you Gail, this dish was so flavorful and aromatic. It’s a keeper! 🙂
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WOW! What a great combination of flavours! 💗 🙂
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the dish. It was indeed so flavorful and aromatic. 🙂
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Wow! Gochujang and hoisin? Brilliant. I cannot wait to try this!!!
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Thank you Mimi. The “this and that” approach worked very well in this dish! 🙂
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I must say this Sauce was really nice. I didn’t have all the ingredients but with a few substitutes I produced a sauce similar to yours.
I’m not a meat ball/meatloaf lover, so instead I had some lamb chops. All the ingredients that should have gone to make the meatballs I made a sauce out of and spread it on the chops. Then I skewered the chops together, marinated for a couple of hours, put in the oven to roast for a short while then added the sauce and casseroled the whole thing till ready. Really yummy.
Sorry Ronit, didn’t mean to write a book………… but truly tasty, even without some of your suggestions and my substitutions. :)))
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Thank you Mary, I’m glad you liked the sauce, and used your version is such a tasty way. Glad to know it worked well with lamb. As I always say – every recipe is a base for another! 🙂
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I was trying to think of something different for tonights dinner and your curry sounds terrific!
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Thank you Karen, I’m glad to know. Hope you’ll enjoy the dish. 🙂
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