Tuesday 14 January 2020

Sweet & Sour Baked Meatballs


I defrosted two packets of minced pork. What to cook, eh? Mini Meatloaves, Minced Meat with Potatoes and Carrots, Baked Meatballs or Sweet & Sour Meatballs? 


OK. Sweet & Sour Meatballs lah. But I did not have any capsicum, so I only used cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. That's how it is with me. I don't plan anymore because I change my mind a lot. Many times I wasted ingredients and I am determined not to do that again.


The thought of frying batches of meatballs was discouraging. I was suffering from a headache and I did not want to stand around at the stove. The easiest and cleanest solution to meatballs is to bake them in the oven.

In the past, my meatballs were pale, though some got  a little bit browned. Then recently, instead of using salt, I seasoned the minced pork with light soya sauce. I noticed that the  baked meatballs were more browned. So I tried it again and yes, my meatballs got browned.


I have always had a thing for sweet and sour dishes especially Sweet & Sour Pork. So I was happy with this. I made only enough sauce to coat the meatballs because too much sauce may not always be the best thing.


Sweet & Sour Baked Meatballs
Recipe source : PH

For the baked meatballs :
- 350g minced pork
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp light soya sauce (or to tastes)
- 1/2 tsp freshly cracked pepper
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 1 egg

For the sauce :
- 1 tsp cornflour
- 3 tbsp water
- 3 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp light soya sauce
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

For the vegetables :
- 1 red onion cut into wedges
- 1 Japanese cucumber, cut into small cubes
- 10 cherry tomatoes, cut into halves

Method :

For the baked meatballs :
1. Mix all ingredients together until the mixture becomes gluey and sticky.
2. Form into balls and place them onto a lined baking pan.
3. Bake at 180C for 22-25 minutes or until meatballs are browned.
4. Remove from oven and set aside.

For the sauce :
1. In a bowl, mix the cornflour with water until cornflour dissolves.
2. Then add tomato ketchup, light soya sauce and apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in a wok and saute the onion wedges until wilted.
4. Add cucumber and tomatoes and stir fry briefly.
5. Add the sauce and bring to a boil.
6. Add the baked meatballs and toss all the ingredients together.
7. Dish out and serve.

24 comments:

  1. baked meatballs are so much better than deep fried ones imho. yes, better to just go with the flow than waste ingredients. so delicious! I could eat this dish anytime.

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    Replies
    1. These days I prefer to bake rather than fry although I will admit that the fried ones taste better.

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  2. I love this! Maybe we should cook this for our Chinese New Year reunion dinner, red colour is auspicious!

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  3. I'm surprised you didn't realise that using soya sauce can help with browning. I found that out a long time ago when my baked chicken legs turned out pale, so I dabbled with both light and dark soya sauce and it worked (if using the latter, you need to use sparingly). I just smear my fingers with a smidget and rub it on the chicken skin. I remembered suggesting this soya sauce thingy to use when you wrote a post that your balls were pale...haha! ;D You must have forgotten about that.

    Meatballs are one of my most-loved things to eat...no bones to contend with and you can eat it in one bite! ;) You're a master of meatballs...sweet & sour meatballs, meatballs with tomato sauce, meatballs with baked beans, pale meatballs...even mutton meatballs & pumpkin meatballs...wahahahaha! :D

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    Replies
    1. Nope, I never knew that, so I am not very clever after all heh..heh... Yes, I forgot about your suggestion and I shall now remember! Meatballs are the best :)

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  4. I can have lots and lots of this without stopping!

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  5. The photo is making me hungry. I must get minced pork and try your recipe. I love sweet sour dishes too.

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    Replies
    1. It's a very easy dish. I hope you like it.

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  6. ooo, i'm the opposite - i rarely order sweet-and-sour dishes, be they chinese, malay or thai dishes, since i don't like the sweet-and-sour flavour combination. so yay ... after all these years, you've finally published a recipe that i might not grab immediately :D

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  7. Sweet & sour sounds good to me:)

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  8. So hungry now looking at your meatballs, sweet and sour is very hoi wai so i like.

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  9. Sounds good to me. Kids would love it too.

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    Replies
    1. I think so too, a very kid friendly dish.

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  10. Looks yummy. I love sweet and sour dishes too :)

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  11. I wonder if the apple cider vinegar can be replaced by normal vinegar as I don't want to buy a new bottle then use just a bit of that and let it expires in my pantry =.="

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