Asian Pork Meatballs over Coconut Rice (2024)

Spice up dinner with these flavorful Asian Pork Meatballs served over creamy coconut rice. This easy and delicious recipe is sure to be a family favorite!

Asian Pork Meatballs Ingredients

These flavorful meatballs are made from ground pork mixed with crushed pork rinds, egg, cilantro, garlic, ginger, salt, and pepper. The result is a tender and juicy texture that's both delicious and satisfying.

Ground Pork - Ground pork is a versatile and flavorful choice for these Asian pork meatballs, contributing to their taste and texture. You may substitute other ground meats such as ground beef or chicken if you prefer, but the ground pork is more authentic to this recipe.
Pork Rinds - Pork rinds actually help to retain moisture in the meatballs. As they cook, the pork rinds release fat, which keeps the meatballs juicy. Don't worry, you won't taste the pork rinds, but you will notice how tender and juicy these pork meatballs are! The pork rinds also make this meatball recipe gluten-free! If you prefer, you may substitute the pork rinds with bread crumbs, however, the texture will be more dry.
Egg - Egg acts as a binder, helping to hold the meatball mixture together. This is important for keeping the meatballs from falling apart during cooking.
Cilantro - Cilantro has a unique, citrusy flavor that adds a refreshing taste to the meatballs. It helps to balance out the richness of the pork and other ingredients.
Garlic - Garlic has a strong, pungent flavor that adds depth and complexity to the meatballs. It enhances the overall taste of the dish. Additionally, garlic is a common ingredient in many Asian cuisines, so using it in pork meatballs helps to maintain the traditional flavor profile of the dish.
Ginger - Like garlic, ginger is also a traditional ingredient in Asian cuisines. Additionally, Ginger has a warm, spicy-sweet flavor that adds a distinctive taste to the meatballs. It enhances the overall flavor profile of the dish.
Salt and pepper - Salt and pepper play important roles in seasoning the meatballs, ensuring they are flavorful and well-balanced.

How to Make the Asian Pork Meatball Recipe

Mix - In a large bowl, combine the pork rinds with the egg and add in the cilantro, garlic, ginger, salt, and pepper. Once that is all mixed well, add the ground pork and mix it up. TIP: Put on a glove and mix this in by hand to ensure it is evenly mixed
Shape - Using a tablespoon, scoop out a heaping tablespoon of the ground pork mixture and roll between your hands to shape into a meatball. Continue until all the pork meatballs are formed.
Bake or Air Fry - Bake in a 425 degree oven for about 15 mintues or Air Fry at 400 degrees for about 7-8 minutes. The meatballs should be 160 degrees F. when temped with an instant read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meatball. You could also pan fry the meatballs if you like.

How to Make the Asian Inspired Sauce

I can't emphasize enough how amazing this sauce is y'all. It is so good, I get tempted to just slurp it up with a straw! I'm not even kidding!

Just looking at the photos has me craving it again. It is definitely going on the menu this week, because I have to have it! It's so good, no one will ever guess how easy it is to make. Seriously!

I'm sharing with you two different ways to make this sauce, because the very easy way uses an ingredient some of you have told me you aren't able to find. Therefore, I am sharing a second option that takes a little bit longer, but uses common ingredients you might already have in your pantry.

Sauce Ingredients

Alessi Coconut Balsamic Reduction - This ingredient can be a challenge to find, but you can order it from Alessi. Click:White Balsamic Coconut Reduction on Amazon.
Soy Sauce -Soy sauce is a traditional Asian ingredient that adds a rich, savory, and umami flavor to the sauce, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
Red Chile Pepper -Red chili peppers add spiciness and heat to the sauce. If you aren't able to find a fresh red chile pepper, I recommend using 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
Ginger - Fresh Ginger adds a warm, spicy-sweet flavor that adds a distinctive and traditional taste to the sauce. TIP: Freeze your fresh ginger before grating. Frozen ginger is so much easier to grate. Use a microplane to grate the frozen ginger.

Sauce Instructions

Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and heat through. Give it a taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking. It's that easy!

Alternative Asian Sauce Recipe

If you aren't able to find the Alessi Coconut Reduction, there is another option for making this sauce. The ingredients you'll need are as follows:

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons water
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon ginger, grated
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil over mid-high heat, stirring.
Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking, stirring often, until mixture starts to thicken and is reduced by half. This will take about 15-20 minutes. The flavors will intensify as the sauce thickens and becomes syrupy.

Coconut Rice Ingredients

Basmati Rice - I prefer using Basmati rice as I really like the flavor, however, you can easily substitute with another rice such as jasmine rice.
Unsweetened coconut milk - For best results use full-fat coconut milk. You can use light coconut milk, but the flavor will not be as rich.
Coarse Kosher salt - I typically use coarse kosher salt in my cooking as larger grains of salt adhere better to food, providing a more intense and even distribution of saltiness.

How to Make Coconut Rice

Rinse - Rinse and drain rice in cold water.Rinsing rice can help prevent the grains from sticking together during cooking, resulting in a fluffier texture.
Boil - Place 2 cups rice in a skillet with 1 1/2 cups water, 1 can unsweetened coconut milk, and kosher salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, stir and reduce heat to mid-low.
Cover - Cover with a tight fitting lid and simmer for 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. When most of the liquid is absorbed, remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
Fluff - Remove cover and fluff with a fork to serve.

You might also like my recipe for Cilantro Lime Coconut Rice

Recipe Prep Tips

Gather all of your ingredients to have them handy. This recipe moves along quickly.
Start the coconut rice first. I recommend rinsing the rice first for best results, and also making the rice in a skillet with a lid.
Once the coconut rice is going, mix the meatballs and get them in the oven.
While the coconut rice and meatballs are cooking, it's a good time to make the sauce. I heat the sauce in a saucepan on the stove, but you can also measure it out and heat it in the microwave if you like.
When the rice has absorbed most of the liquid, remove it from the heat and let it sit, still covered, for 10 minutes. Then fluff with a fork and serve with the meatballs coated in sauce.
Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, and chives or green onions. Enjoy!

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover Asian Pork Meatballs over Coconut Rice makes a great lunch the next day, so if you have leftovers, consider yourself fortunate!! Here's how to store them:

Cool Down: Allow the meatballs and rice to cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container.
Refrigerate: Place the leftovers in the fridge within 2 hours of cooking. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freeze (optional): If you want to store the leftovers for a longer period, you can freeze them. Place the meatballs and rice in separate airtight containers or freezer bags. Label them with the date and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat: When ready to eat, reheat the meatballs and rice in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through. Add a little water or broth to the rice before reheating to prevent it from drying out.
Serve: Serve the reheated meatballs and rice hot, and enjoy your delicious meal again!

More delicious meatball recipes

Ingredients

Coconut Rice

2 cups Basmati Rice, rinsed until water runs clear
1 1/2 cups water
1 (13.5 ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Asian Pork Meatballs

1 pound ground pork
1/4 cup pork rinds, crushed
1 large egg
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped fresh
1 tablespoon garlic, minced fresh
1/2 tablespoon ginger, grated fresh
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
Chives, chopped for garnish
Cilantro, chopped for garnish

Asian Inspired Sauce

1/2 cup Alessi Coconut Reduction (see notes)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 red chile pepper, seeded and minced (see notes)
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Asian Inspired Sauce Recipe Using Common Ingredients

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons water
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon ginger, grated
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Coconut Rice

Rinse and drain rice in cold water.
Place 2 cups rice in a skillet with 1 1/2 cups water, 1 can unsweetened coconut milk, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, stir and reduce heat to mid-low.
Cover with a tight fitting lid and simmer for 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.
When most of the liquid is absorbed, remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
Remove cover and fluff with a fork to serve.

Asian Pork Meatballs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. and line a baking sheet with foil and top with a baking rack (see notes). Lightly grease the baking rack.
Combine 1/4 cup pork rinds, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoons cilantro, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1/2 tablespoon grated ginger, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper in a large bowl. Mix together well and then add the ground pork.
Mix the pork mixture well to combine and then form into meatballs. I use a medium size scoop to get them uniform in size. Place them on the greased rack or a lightly greased baking sheet and bake in the pre-heated oven for about 15 minutes or until cooked through to 160°F. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your meatballs.

Asian Inspired Sauce

Notes

Sauce:

If you are unable to find the Alessi Coconut Reduction, I provided an alternative sauce recipe that uses common ingredients. The two recipes have a very similar flavor profile.
You may sub 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes for the chile pepper.

Meatballs:

When baking in the oven, I prefer to bake the meatballs on a wire rack, but you can bake them right on the foil lined baking sheet. Just be sure to lightly grease it first.
These meatballs can be air fried as well. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. When preheated, lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil spray and place the meatballs in the basket in a single layer. Lightly spray the meatballs with oil spray. Air fry 7-8. minutes until the meatballs are 160 degrees F in the thickest part when checked with an instant read thermometer.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

626.88

Fat (grams)

35.73 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

22.5 g

Carbs (grams)

55.54 g

Fiber (grams)

3.07 g

Net carbs

52.47 g

Sugar (grams)

3.22 g

Protein (grams)

21.25 g

Sodium (milligrams)

939.91 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

86.54 mg

Nutrition label disclaimer: Nutrient values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product availability and food preparation. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

https://www.ourlifetastesgood.com/2017/03/asian-pork-meatballs-coconut-rice.html

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