Lion's Head Chinese Meatballs

Lion’s Head Chinese Meatballs get their name from their distinctive, lion-head-like shape. They’re a popular comfort food around Chinese New Year’s, but they are of course enjoyed at any time of the year. Filled with tangy, sweet, and savory flavors and topped with a magnificent sweet soy sauce, Lion’s Head Chinese Meatballs have a celebratory taste that will get you excited for whatever the new year holds!

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

1 pound ground pork
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons Shaoxing cooking wine or mirin
1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

For the sweet soy sauce:

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 tablespoon flour or cornstarch

For serving:

white rice, optional, cooked

Directions

Step 1 –Preheat the oven or air fryer to 375 degrees F.

Step 2 –In a large mixing bowl, combine the pork with the breadcrumbs, eggs, cooking wine, green onions, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar, ginger, garlic, salt, and pepper, mixing until well combined.

Step 3 –Divide the pork mixture into 5 equal pieces and roll them into meatballs.

Step 4 –If cooking them in the air-fryer, place the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer and cook until the meatballs have an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, about 20 minutes.

Step 5 –If cooking the meatballs in an oven, place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, about 40 minutes.