[Vietnamese Recipes] Beef Meatballs

Vietnamese food easily wins my heart because of its pungent flavors and healthy ingredients. When I am around Vietnamese food I turn into Ms Pac-Man, munching on anything that’s in front of me. Nothing satisfies me more than a big bowl of pho and some crispy spring rolls wrapped in mint and lettuce when I crave a cheap and tasty lunch. I also love a spicy banh mi or a colorful bowl of bun dressed in plenty of nuoc cham. 

I still haven’t been to Vietnam but if I did, I know I would spend most of my time hitting every street food stall in search of new flavor combinations, sipping on carbonated lime drinks while taking in the sights and smells. I don’t know how authentic these Beef Meatballs are but I can promise you they will blow your tastebuds away in the flavor department. WOW.

When I think of South East Asian food I think of punchy, stinky, in your face flavors. These Beef Meatballs may not have the stinky factor but they are very South East Asian nonetheless! They are so tasty you could technically do without the dipping sauce. Blending the ingredients (including the beef) in a blender also changes the texture, making these Beef Meatballs very different than say, Italian meatballs.

The texture is smooth, compact and packed with unbelievable flavors: Thai chilies, ginger, garlic, cilantro and fish sauce are mixed with ground beef to form perfect little round balls that will then be dressed or dipped into a sweet and spicy hoisin sauce.

Serve them on a bed of rice so the sauce can soak through each grain, and garnish with sliced tomatoes,pickled cucumbers and more fresh cilantro. Relish every bite of this amazing meal because I can promise you will want to have more as soon as you finish chewing on the last bite.

Vietnamese Beef Meatballs Served with Rice and Sliced Tomatoes

BEEF MEATBALLS (VIETNAMESE)

PREP TIME

10 mins

COOK TIME

10 mins

TOTAL TIME

20 mins

Savory Vietnamese Beef Meatballs with a Sweet and Spicy Hoisin Dipping sauce.

Author: Pickled Plum - Caroline Phelps

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Beef, Vietnamese
Serves: 4


INGREDIENTS

• For the meatballs:
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 cup red onion, finely chopped
• ⅓ cup cilantro, roughly chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 1½ tbsp fish sauce (nam pla)
• ½ tbsp honey
• 1 Thai chili, finely chopped (optional)
• 2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
• 
  
• For the dipping sauce:
• ¼ cup hoisin sauce
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 Thai chili, finely chopped (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

- Put all the ingredients for the meatballs in a food processor and blend until everything is mixed and minced. Transfer to a bowl.

- Put a little oil in your hands, just enough to lightly coat fingers and palms and use a tablespoon to scoop up the beef mixture so the meatballs are the same size. Repeat process until all the beef mixture is used.

- In a deep pan over medium high heat, add oil and the meatballs. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the meatballs over, cover and cook for another 5 or until meatballs are golden brown

- Mix all the ingredients for the dipping sauce in a bowl and serve together with beef meatballs. Pour over or use as a dipping sauce.

- Serve with rice, tomatoes and a few cilantro leaves.

This recipe and image sources are referred in website: Pickledplum.com. Thanks so much!