Vietnamese Meatball Appetizer Recipes

VIETNAMESE MEATBALLS (XIU MAI)

Steps:

• Remove the jicama skin using a vegetable peeler. Finely dice the jicama.
• Cut off the white (root) portion of the green onions and finely chop. Chop the green onion stems. Transfer the green onion stems into a small bowl and set aside for later.
• In a medium bowl, add the ground pork, jicama, green onion (white) root, garlic, fish sauce, corn starch and ground black pepper. Mix together by hand combining all of the ingredients well. Combine just until everything sticks together. Avoid over-working the meat mixture as this will make the meatballs tough.
• Using a tablespoon, scoop out some of the meat mixture and transfer to a large plate. Continue making small mounds until all the meat mixture is used. Wet your palms with water to prevent sticking. Gently roll each of the mounds into a ball.
• Chop the tomatoes.
• Heat a large skillet over Medium High heat and when hot add vegetable oil. Add the minced garlic and tomato paste. Stir fry for 15-20 seconds. Add the chopped tomatoes and combine together. Add the sugar, fish sauce and water. Stir together combining the ingredients. Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to Medium Low, cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes.
• Make room in the center of the skillet by pushing the tomatoes to the side. Gently transfer the meatballs into the sauce. Cover and cook on Medium Low heat for 5 minutes. After this time, rotate the meatballs and cook for another 5 minutes.
• To make the thickener, mix the corn starch and water until smooth. Add to the sauce. Combine gently and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Top with ground black pepper.
• To serve, transfer a few meatballs into a small bowl along with a generous amount of tomato sauce. Top with the chopped green onion stems. Enjoy these scrumptious Vietnamese Meatballs with crusty bread.

VIETNAMESE MEATBALL APPETIZER

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl put the ground beef, egg, bread, fish sauce, garlic, black pepper, sugar and sesame oil.
• Mix well with your hands and form into golf-size balls.
• Fill a frying pan 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil.
• Add the meat balls and boil until cooked through.
• Serve as an appetizer with oriental hot chili sauce on the side.
• To Use in Soup: Put the cooked meat balls in some hot beef broth that has been seasoned with 1 Table. soy sauce and 1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper.
• Add cooked noodles.
• Serve the soup garnished with sliced green onions.
• These meat balls can also be baked in the oven or fried in a little oil, and then served as an entree with rice.

VIETNAMESE MEATBALL LOLLIPOPS WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray (or use nonstick foil).
• In large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients until well mixed. Shape into 1 1/4-inch meatballs. On cookie sheet, place meatballs 1 inch apart. Bake 20 minutes, turning halfway through baking, until thermometer inserted in center of meatballs reads at least 165°F.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat all dipping sauce ingredients over low heat until sugar is dissolved; set aside.
• Insert bamboo skewers into cooked meatballs; place on serving plate. Serve with warm dipping sauce.

VIETNAMESE LEMONGRASS MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Combine ground pork, bread crumbs, shallot, lemongrass paste, mint, fish sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger root, and salt in a large bowl. Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, shape mixture into meatballs, and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until meatballs are no longer pink in the center and cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the dipping sauce by mixing water, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, Thai chile, and garlic in a small bowl.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Place meatballs under the hot broiler just until the tops start to turn brown to get a little color and crispness, about 2 minutes. Serve with the dipping sauce.

VIETNAMESE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients until well blended.
• Make 1" meatballs.
• Put them on wooden skewers (about 4 per skewer--you kind of have to mold them on to the skewer).
• Broil (or grill) until thoroughly cooked.