This Braised Asian Meatballs and Cabbage dinner is the epitome of quick. You can pull it together in just 15 or 20 minutes with only a handful of dirty dishes left for you when you’re done. Now that’s my kind of busy weeknight meal, and with the start of school coming up soon, I know we’ll all need plenty of those at our disposal!
Plus, with the cabbage mixed in with the meatballs and the whole thing served over whole-grain rice noodles, it definitely qualifies as a one-dish meal. I hope your family enjoys this one as much as mine does!
Braised Asian Meatballs and Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons ginger peeled and minced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 large green cabbage trimmed and sliced (or 1 whole small green cabbage)
- 1 cup chicken broth or veggie broth
- brown rice noodles cooked according to package directions (for serving)
- green onions sliced, optional garnish
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, use your hands to combine the pork, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. Form into golf ball sized meatballs and set aside.
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In a large sauté pan (with sides and a lid), heat the coconut oil over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides, about 5 minutes.
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Add the cabbage and cook while stirring for another minute or two until it begins to wilt.
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Pour in the broth, cover with the lid, and cook until the meatballs are done all the way through (no longer pink on the inside), another 5 minutes.
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Remove the lid and simmer for another minute or two so the liquid can reduce slightly. Pour over rice noodles, garnish with green onions, and serve warm.
Recipe Notes
1. Gluten-free when using gluten-free soy sauce.
2. Coconut is not a tree nut. However, if you have a tree nut allergy, consult your doctor before consuming.
3. We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
I got all excited seeing this..Being Taiwanese, this dish 紅燒獅子頭 （Hong Shao ShiZi Tou）this one of my favorite Chinese food, it reminds me of home !!!!
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This looks delicious! I love that it’s a nice change from our usual meatballs. I will leave out the sesame due to my son’s allergies, but the rest of the ingredients look great! Thanks!
Quick (once mtballs are made), one dish meal, yay
Our area isn’t very “real food” friendly and I have a difficult time finding pork that follows the rules. Any suggestions? Thank you!
great recipe idea, wow, love how quick this is, love the pork-cabbage flavor combination, thank you!
Made thos dish last night. Quick, easy and delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
made last night and I don’t know what I did wrong but the meatballs were dry and not a lot of flavor except the heat from the red peppers.
The flavor was outstanding, but the meatballs were really dry. Next time I’ll just break the ground pork up in the pan and add all the seasonings in with it.
This looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it! As a college student, I’m always looking for quick, easy, and delicious recipes.
Update: I made this last night and it was so delicious and full of flavor! Thanks for this wonderful recipe!
I had a head of Napa cabbage that I used in place of regular, and added some Siriacha…my chef hubby calls it a keeper! Thank you for this awesomely easy dinner (with enough leftovers for some lunches, too)!