Vietnamese Pork Meatballs with Rice and Lettuce Cups

Vietnamese Pork Meatballs with Rice and Lettuce Cups

Ready in 30 minutes Serves 2-3
This dish most recently appeared in My Classic (4 Nights For 2) on Sunday, November 26, 2017.

Measuring out 2 tablespoons is approx. ½ an egg – you will only need half for this recipe.


Ingredients

Rice

  • 1 cup Japanese brown rice
  • 1½ cups water
  • 1½ teaspoons Vietnamese paste
  • 1½ teaspoons soy sauce

Vietnamese Pork Meatballs

  • 1 egg
  • 300g pork mince
  • 1½ tablespoons Vietnamese paste
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • Zest of ½ lemon
  • ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Salad

  • ½ iceberg lettuce
  • 1 carrot
  • ½ capsicum
  • 100g mung bean sprouts

Nuoc Mam Dressing

  • 1½ tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
  • 1½ teaspoons fish sauce
  • Juice of ½ lemon

Steps

  1. Combine all rice ingredients together in a medium pot and bring to the boil. As soon as it boils, cover with a tight-fitting lid and reduce to lowest heat to cook for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and leave to steam, still covered, for a further 8 minutes. Do not lift lid during cooking.
  2. Whisk egg in a large bowl. Measure 2 tablespoons and discard remaining. Add all remaining Vietnamese pork meatball ingredients to bowl and mix well. Using clean hands, shape into golf ball-sized balls and set aside on a plate.
  3. Heat a drizzle of oil in a medium fry-pan on medium heat. Cook meatballs for 5-6 minutes, turning often, until all sides are browned and meatballs are cooked through. Set aside, covered, to rest for 3-5 minutes.
  4. While meatballs cook, prepare the salad. Separate lettuce leaves; grate carrot; slice capsicum 0.5cm. Place all on a board or sharing plate with mung bean sprouts.
  5. Combine all nuoc mam dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside.
  6. To serve, place everything in the middle of the table for everyone to build their own lettuce cups. Start by filling lettuce cup with ¾ cup cooked rice per person then top with meatballs, salad and a drizzle of nuoc mam dressing.

Nutritional Information

Energy 2450 kj
586 kcal
Protein 36.7g
Carbohydrate 62.7g
Fat 22.5g