Sweet and Sour Meatballs (糖醋丸子)

Chinese sweet and sour meatballs on a plate.

5 from 1 vote

Sweet and Sour Meatballs (糖醋丸子)

Chinese sweet and sour meatballs stand out for their succulent texture and rich flavor. Discover a quick and easy way to make them from scratch!

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Servings:

Calories: 400kcal

Author: Wei Guo

Ingredients

For the meatballs

1 lb ground pork or beef, chicken, turkey, see note 1
1 egg
2 tablespoon panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder optional

For the sauce

3 tablespoon tomato ketchup
2 tablespoon black rice vinegar or white rice vinegar
2 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
2 teaspoon cornstarch
¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
2 tablespoon water

Optional garnishing

Toasted sesame seeds

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Shape the meatballs

Put ground meat into a mixing bowl. Add egg, breadcrumbs, cornstarch, light soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, white pepper, and garlic powder (optional). Mix until well combined.
Divide the mixture into 20-22 equal portions (about 1 heaping tablespoon each). Use your hands to shape each portion into a ball.

Bake the meatballs

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) or 320ºF (160ºC) for a fan-assisted oven.
Arrange the meatballs on a baking dish (line it with parchment paper if it isn't non-stick). Place the dish over the middle rack of the oven. Leave to bake for about 12 minutes (see note 2).

Cook the sauce

In a bowl, combine tomato ketchup, black rice vinegar, sugar, light soy sauce, cornstarch, white pepper, and water. Stir until smooth and lump-free.
Pour the mixture into a skillet. Cook over low heat while stirring with a spatula constantly. Once the sauce is nearly at the desired consistency, add the baked meatballs.
Turn off the heat and gently stir the meatballs until they are evenly coated in the sauce. Optionally, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over before serving.

Notes

1. For a tender texture and richer taste, choose ground meat that has a high content of fat.

2. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on your oven’s performance. If unsure, check one meatball with a kitchen thermometer. The reading should be above 160ºF (71ºC).

Nutrition