Classic and delicious meatballs

Steps:

1.First, prepare some fresh pork and chop it into minced meat using a knife. Place the minced pork into a bowl. Next, add a suitable amount of salt, sugar, and five-spice powder to the minced pork. These seasonings will enhance the flavor of the meat, making it even more delicious. Then, use a spoon to thoroughly mix the minced meat, ensuring that the seasonings are evenly incorporated throughout. This will ensure that each meatball has the same taste, enhancing the overall dish. Once the mixing is complete, set the minced meat aside for later use.

2.Next, we need to prepare a steamed bun. Tear the bun into small pieces and soak them in water for a while to soften. Then, add the soaked bun pieces into the bowl with the minced meat. Additionally, add an appropriate amount of salt again. Salt helps enhance the flavor of the meatballs. Next, use a spoon or your hands to thoroughly mix the bun pieces, minced meat, salt, and starch, ensuring that all the ingredients are evenly combined. During the mixing process, apply even force to achieve a smooth texture for the meatballs. Once the mixing is complete, we can now proceed to shape the meatballs. Take a portion of the meat mixture and roll it into a round shape, then place an egg in the center of the meatball. This step symbolizes reunion and good wishes, adding more significance to the dish.

3.Then, pour an ample amount of cooking oil into a pot and heat it to about 50% hot. When the oil reaches the desired temperature, carefully slide the pre-shaped meatballs into the pot. This helps to prevent splattering of the hot oil. Next, reduce the heat and continue frying the meatballs. Once they turn golden brown, use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil, allowing any excess oil to drip off, and drain the meatballs. You can use kitchen paper towels to absorb any remaining oil. Then, reheat the oil and once it’s hot, place the meatballs back into the pot for a second round of frying. This time, the frying process will be shorter, approximately 30 seconds. This step ensures that the meatballs are crispy on the outside while remaining tender inside. It requires patience and caution not to over-fry them, maintaining their beautiful appearance and texture.

4.After preparing the fried meatballs, we need to gather some star anise, cinnamon bark, green onions, ginger, and garlic. Chop the green onions, ginger, and garlic into small pieces using a knife. Next, heat a suitable amount of cooking oil in a pot. Once the oil is hot, add the star anise, cinnamon bark, green onions, ginger, and garlic into the pot and stir-fry them until fragrant. This process helps release their aromas and flavors, enhancing the taste of the dish.Then, place the fried meatballs into the pot and add an appropriate amount of water, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, salt, and shaoxing wine. Light soy sauce and dark soy sauce are commonly used seasonings that enhance the umami flavor and color of the dish. Sugar and salt are added to adjust the taste, while shaoxing wine adds fragrance and depth to the dish.Cover the pot with a lid and simmer over low heat for 40 minutes. Slow simmering allows the meatballs to fully absorb the flavors of the broth, making them more delicious and tender in texture. After 40 minutes of slow simmering, the seasonings and meat juices in the Four Happiness Meatballs will blend together, resulting in a more flavorful and appetizing dish.

5.After careful cooking and slow simmering, the Four Happiness Meatballs are now ready. Transfer the cooked meatballs onto a beautiful plate. The golden-brown exterior and aromatic meat juices of the Four Happiness Meatballs are irresistible and tantalizing.

Tips:

1.It is important to control the soaking time when tearing the steamed bun and immersing it in water. Soaking for too long can make the bun excessively soft, affecting the texture of the meatballs, while a short soaking time can result in the bun being not tender enough. Generally, soaking the bun for about 5-10 minutes, until it becomes soft but still retains some resilience, is recommended.

2.Frying the meatballs twice can result in a crispier outer texture. First, fry the meatballs until they turn golden brown, then remove them and drain off excess oil. Next, reheat the oil and place the meatballs back into the pot for a second round of frying, lasting about 30 seconds. This process ensures a crispy exterior while maintaining a tender and smooth interior. Such frying method enhances the overall texture of the meatballs.

Four Happiness Meatballs are a classic Chinese dish known for their golden-brown exterior and delicious juicy filling. The process of making this dish may be intricate, but each step is worth the attention to detail. Mixing the minced meat with various seasonings and wrapping it in soft and tender steamed bun pieces creates a harmonious combination. With two rounds of frying, the meatballs achieve a crispy outer texture and a tender interior, resulting in an excellent mouthfeel. When you taste Four Happiness Meatballs, you will first be captivated by their enticing aroma. The golden-brown crust of the meatballs is crispy and delightful. Each bite reveals the irresistible aroma and succulent texture of the meat filling. The slow simmering process infuses the meat with the fragrances of star anise, cinnamon, green onions, ginger, and garlic, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Whether it’s the exquisite appearance or the rich flavor, this dish allows people to experience the essence of traditional Chinese cooking and the unique charm of its culture.