Chinese Pork Ball Soup

Ingredients

• 500g (1.1 lb) ground pork 500g (1.1 lb) ground pork
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, grated 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
• 2 green onions, finely chopped 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 liter (4 cups) chicken stock 1 liter (4 cups) chicken stock
• 2 cups water 2 cups water
• Optional: 200g (7 oz) bok choy or mushrooms, sliced Optional: 200g (7 oz) bok choy or mushrooms, sliced

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 20g, 7g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 4g, 1g
• Protein: 30g
• Fiber: 1g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, minced garlic, grated ginger, chopped green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, and salt. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
2. 2.
   Wet your hands with water to prevent sticking, then shape the pork mixture into small meatballs, about 2-3cm (1 inch) in diameter.
3. 3.
   In a large pot, bring the chicken stock and water to a boil over medium heat.
4. 4.
   Carefully drop the pork balls into the boiling broth. If using vegetables, add them to the pot as well.
5. 5.
   Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the pork balls are cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
6. 6.
   Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if needed by adding more soy sauce or salt.
7. 7.
   Serve the Chinese Pork Ball Soup hot, garnished with additional chopped green onions if desired.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Ground pork — Make sure to use lean ground pork for a healthier option. If you prefer a fattier meatball, you can use a combination of lean and fatty ground pork.
• Ginger — Fresh ginger adds a wonderful aroma and flavor to the pork balls. Grate the ginger using a fine grater to ensure it blends well with the other ingredients.

Tips & Tricks

• For a more intense flavor, you can marinate the ground pork mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before shaping them into balls.
• If you prefer a clear broth, skim off any impurities that rise to the surface while simmering the soup.
• Feel free to customize the soup by adding other vegetables such as baby corn or bean sprouts.

Serving advice

Serve the Chinese Pork Ball Soup as a main course with steamed rice or noodles. It can also be enjoyed as a starter or part of a larger Chinese meal.

Presentation advice

Garnish the soup with a sprinkle of chopped green onions for a pop of color. Serve it in individual bowls, making sure to include a few pork balls in each serving.