Today, I found myself craving some Vietnamese action. I remembered the Bun that I had a few weeks ago. It is a bowl of crisp, shredded romaine lettuce, cold rice noodles, loads of chopped dry roasted peanuts, fresh mint and cilantro, shredded carrots, cucumbers, and some kind of sticky, and sweet bbq meat. I love this dish so much, but I wanted to keep everything simpler and easier. These Vietnamese Chicken Meatballs are the first that came to my mind. I am obsessed with the sticky, caramelized glaze of these delicious meatballs that reminds me of Vietnamese bbq meat. I served these tasty meatballs by themselves with a sweet chili sauce for dipping. But you can also enjoy these meatballs on rice, in a Thai-inspired sub, lettuce wraps, and even soups!
Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 pound ground chicken
1/2 small onion, minced
3-4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon chopped mint
1 stalk lemongrass, tender white inside part only, minced
granulated sugar for rolling the meatballs, about 1/4 c.
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
A couple of grinds of fresh black pepper
How to make Joyce’s Vietnamese Chicken Meatballs
Step 1: In a large bowl, place the chicken with all the other ingredients except for the sugar. Mix well but gently to prevent overworking the heart. Roll the mixture into golf-sized meatballs using your slightly damp hands. On a plate, place the meatballs and keep them in the fridge for about half an hour or so.
Step 2: In the meantime, prepare the oven. Preheat it to 400 degrees F.
Step 3: Remove the meatballs from the fridge and transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly roll each meatball in the sugar. Place the baking sheet in the middle of the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, shaking the pan a couple of times to ensure even browning.
Step 4: Remove from the oven when done and serve the meatballs on rice, in a Thai-inspired sub, in lettuce wraps, or by themselves with a sweet and chili sauce for dipping. These Vietnamese Chicken meatballs are also excellent in soup. Enjoy!