Chinese Pearl Meatballs Recipe

This dish is often served in the form of a starter. The balls are prepared by cooking ground pork with ginger, onion, garlic, soy sauce, and Chinese wine.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup uncooked glutinous (sticky) white rice, rinsed

• 2/3 pound ground pork

• 2 tablespoons water

• 1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 dash ground black pepper

• 2 leaves Chinese cabbage

Instructions

1. Place the rice in a bowl with enough water to cover. Allow to soak for 2 hours. Drain and pour onto a platter.
2. Mix the ground pork, water, wine, cornstarch, soy sauce, onion, ginger, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl until all ingredients are evenly mixed. Divide and roll the mixture into balls 1-1/2 to 2 inches in size. Roll the meatballs in the soaked glutinous rice to coat completely.
3. Line a large bamboo steamer with the cabbage leaves. Arrange the meatballs atop the cabbage leaves.
4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, place a bamboo steamer over boiling water. Steam the meatballs until no longer pink in the center, about 30 minutes.