Ninh Hoah Skewered Vietnamese Meatballs Recipes

VIETNAMESE BBQ PORK MEATBALLS (NEM NUONG)

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the pork, shallots, garlic, sugar, fish sauce and pepper. Stir to combine well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight. Transfer to the freezer for 30 minutes, or until the mixture is partially frozen.
• Place the rice in a small skillet and heat over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until rice is toasted, golden brown and fragrant. Transfer to a plate to cool. When cool, place rice in a coffee grinder and process to a fine powder. Measure 3 tablespoons of the powder and set aside. Save any remaining powder for another purpose or discard.
• Transfer the partially frozen meat mixture to a food processor and process to a completely smooth but stiff paste. Add the pork fat to the processor and process until smooth or finely chopped. Add the roasted rice powder and pulse several times to combine the mixture. Do not over process or the mixture will become sticky.
• Preheat a grill to medium-low.
• Transfer the meat mixture to a small bowl. Lightly oil your hands. Divide meat mixture into heaping 1 1/2 tablespoonfuls and roll each into a smooth ball. Recoat your hands with oil, as necessary. Thread the meatballs onto the bamboo skewers, fitting as many as you can on each skewer.
• Coat the grill lightly with oil and grill the skewered meatballs, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

NINH HOA GRILLED MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix the pork, pepper, garlic, sugar, cornstarch and potato starch and fish sauce. Marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat a grill or broiler. With oiled hands, make 21 meatballs, each about 1 inch in diameter. (The mixture may be a bit loose.) If grilling, place 3 meatballs on each of 7 bamboo skewers. If broiling, place on a baking sheet or broiler pan. Grill or broil until the meatballs are deep brown and crisp on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from skewers.
• Serve the hot meatballs with the lettuce leaves and nuoc cham dipping sauce (see recipe).

NINH HOAH (SKEWERED VIETNAMESE MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix the pork, pepper, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, sugar, cornstarch and fish sauce. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 12.
• Using your hands, divide the meat mixture into 18 equal portions and roll into individual balls. Gently push 3 meatballs onto each skewer.
• Preheat the broiler or a grill. Broil or grill the meatballs, turning once, until uniformly brown and crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter lined with lettuce and serve with peanut sauce (see recipe) on the side.

VIETNAMESE BEEF BALLS - (THIT BO VIEN)

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, mix the fish sauce, potato starch, baking powder, sugar and white pepper.
• Slice the meat into 1/8-inch-thick pieces.
• Add to the marinade and mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
• Before proceeding, transfer the meat to the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Work with half of the beef at a time; do not overload the work bowl.
• In a food processor, combine half of the beef with half of the garlic and sesame oil.
• Process to a completely smooth but stiff paste, about 3 minutes.
• Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the work bowl.
• The completed paste should spring back to the touch.
• Transfer the paste to a bowl.
• Process the remaining beef, garlic and sesame oil the same way.
• Rub some vegetable oil on one hand, and grab a handful of the meat paste and close your hand into a fist, squeezing out a small portion of the mixture, about 1 teaspoon, between your thumb and index finger.
• Keep rolling and squeezing the same portion between your thumb and index finger until you obtain a smooth rounded ball.
• Scoop out the meatball with an oiled spoon, and repeat until all of the paste is used.
• Pour 1 inch of water into a wok or wide pot, place a steamer rack or bamboo steamer over the water.
• Arrange the meatballs without crowding in a single layer on the rack.
• Cover and steam for 5 minutes.
• Serve as an appetizer with chili sauce.
• These beef balls can also be added to a well-seasoned beef broth, sprinkled with chopped scallions and white pepper and served as a soup (noodles may be added).
• Note: These meatballs may be frozen.
• Thaw them thoroughly, then steam or simmer in boiling water until just heated through.