East Meets Southwest Bok Choy Meatballs Recipe

by Gustus Vitae

Yield: four servings
Time Estimate: 40 minutes overall, including 25 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking
Storage Notes: serve immediately; pork balls keep for 3 days when refrigerated
Difficulty: moderate
This is one of our favorite appetisers: a fusion of surprisingly complementary flavours, textures, and ingredients. The just-tender bok choy serves as the spoon, cradling Thai-style meatballs infused with our Southwest spice.

Ingredients:

  • 2 heads of baby bok choy
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil (sesame, grapeseed, or similar)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 finely diced head of garlic
  • 1/2 cup panko or breadcrumbs
  • 4 tablespoons Gustus Vitae Condiments' Taste of the Southwest


Method:

  1. In a large bowl, add the pork, water, Taste of the Southwest, egg, garlic and panko/breadcrumbs.
  2. Mix throughly and roll into small balls, each around the size of a large marble. Set aside.
  3. Rinse bok choy, peel and reserve individual leaves.
  4. Add oil to a wok or large non-stick pan and heat on high, until just starting to smoke.
  5. Add the pork balls to the wok/pan, working in batches of 5-6 at a time to ensure even cooking. Cook each batch for 3-4 minutes until well browned or slightly blackened. There should not be pink in the center.
  6. As batches are ready, remove from wok/pan and place on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  7. Add soy sauce to another wok/pan (or alternatively, allow wok/pan to cool, wipe down, and reuse), and heat on high.
  8. When soy sauce begins to bubble, add all boy choy leaves. Cook for 1-2 minutes, tossing regularly, until leaves have wilted slightly.
  9. Remove leaves, and arrange on serving platter. Stack pork balls on leaves, and dust platter with Taste of the Southwest. Serve immediately.
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