Lions Head Meatballs With Napa Cabbage Recipes

LION'S HEAD MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Pour boiling water over shiitake mushrooms, and let sit until soft enough to slice, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, combine chestnuts and tofu in a large bowl. Add ground pork, green onions, garlic, and ginger. Pour in rice wine, soy sauce, salt, cayenne, brown sugar, and egg. Dust with cornstarch. Mix with a clean hand until thoroughly combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Form mixture into 6 large meatballs with wet hands.
• Set an oven rack about 8 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and oil lightly. Place meatballs on the prepared baking sheet.
• Broil in the preheated oven until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool while prepping the pot.
• Trim off the bottom of the head of cabbage and slice 1/2 of the head. Arrange sliced cabbage on the bottom of a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Arrange the remaining leaves on the top. Slice and scatter the mushrooms on top of the cabbage; reserve shiitake liquid. Nestle the meatballs into the cabbage leaves and pour juices over.
• Strain reserved shiitake liquid into a bowl. Add chicken broth, soy sauce, sherry, sesame oil, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Whisk until dissolved. Add to the pot, pouring over each meatball. Bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Uncover and raise heat to medium-high. Continue cooking, basting the meatballs often, until liquid reduces slightly and meatballs are no longer pink in the centers, about 10 minutes. Taste for seasoning.
• Ladle into serving bowls and arrange cabbage over the meatballs. Top with green onions and chili oil.

LION'S HEAD MEATBALLS WITH NAPA CABBAGE

Steps:

• To make the meatballs-combine the ground pork, scallion, cornstarch, water chestnuts, egg, ginger, soy sauce, sherry, sesame oil, crushed garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours.
• Using your wet hands rinsed under cold water, shape the pork mixture into 8 equal large meatballs; transfer to a plate.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Put the cornstarch in a shallow bowl.
• Roll each meatball in the cornstarch, shaking off the excess, and place in the skillet.
• Cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned on all sides, about 6 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, return the meatballs to the plate.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and the garlic to the skillet and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• In batches, stir in the cabbage and cook until wilted.
• Add the broth, soy sauce, and sugar and bring to a boil.
• Nestle the meatballs in the cabbage.
• Decrease heat to med-low and cover.
• Simmer until the meatballs are cooked through and the cabbage is tender, about 15 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon the meatballs, cabbage mixture and cooking liquid into shallow bowls.
• Sprinkle with minced scallions and drizzle with sesame oil.
• Serve hot with the rice and additional soy sauce passed on the side.