Vietnamese Lemongrass Meatballs

These tasty Vietnamese meatballs with lemongrass are perfect served over a bowl of rice or wrapped in lettuce cups. They also make wonderful appetizers.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 306 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 pound lean ground pork
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 1 tablespoon white sugar, or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger root
• 1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons lemongrass paste (such as Gourmet Garden®)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint
• 1 small Thai chile pepper, minced
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 cup water
• 0.25 cup panko bread crumbs

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven until meatballs are no longer pink in the center and cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Step 4

Meanwhile, prepare the dipping sauce by mixing water, fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, Thai chile, and garlic in a small bowl.

Step 5

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.

Step 6

Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.