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Lion’s head meatballs braised with napa cabbage

Lion’s head meatballs braised with napa cabbage

Main dishes

Lion’s head (hongshao shizitou): Large pork meatballs coated in egg white, deep-fried, and then braised for a long time with Chinese cabbage and shiitake …

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Recipe from Kegns, Jsonic, KaurJmeb and 3 other contributors, adapted by Recette de cuisine · · updated on

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These large pork meatballs get their name from their shape, which resembles a lion’s head with its mane of cabbage. After being fried and then braised for one to two hours, they become very tender.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time30 min
  • Cook time2 hr
  • Resting30 min
  • Total3 hr
  • DifficultyMedium
  • CostBudget
  • Cooking methodsaucepan
  • Estimated cost$8.63 $2.16 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 15, 2026.

Ingredients

4 people
  • $4.76
  • $0.40
  • $0.21
  • $2.20
  • $0.27
  • $0.20
  • $0.01
  • $0.09
  • $0.06
  • $0.17
  • $0.26

Prices from US supermarkets for 7 of 11 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Combine the pork with the onion, egg white, and salt. ≈ 4 min
  2. Form large meatballs and lightly oil them to prevent them from sticking. ≈ 10 min
  3. Fry them in oil at 160 °C until they are golden brown, then set them aside.
  4. In a saucepan heated over medium heat, sauté the shallots, ginger, and garlic in a little oil.
  5. Add the shiitake mushrooms and Chinese kale, sauté them, then add the soy sauce, sugar, and rice wine.
  6. Pour the water, and place the meatballs on top of the cabbage. Bring to a boil.
  7. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the meatballs.
  8. Combine the sauce with the dissolved cornstarch, add a few drops of sesame oil, and serve. ≈ 2 min

The bill

Lion’s head meatballs braised with napa cabbage

  • 500 g of ground pork (3 parts lean to 1 part fat)$4.76
  • 1 egg white$0.40
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped$0.21
  • 1/2 head of Chinese cabbage (approximately 500g)$2.20
  • 3 cloves of garlic$0.27
  • 3 tablespoons of soy sauce$0.20
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar$0.01
  • 2 tablespoons of rice wine$0.09
  • 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of water$0.06
  • oil for deep frying$0.17
  • a few drops of sesame oil$0.26

Total$8.63

that's $2.16 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Equipment

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Before you start

Ingredients

  • 500 g of ground pork (3 parts lean to 1 part fat)
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1/2 head of Chinese cabbage (approximately 500g)
  • 6 dried shiitake mushrooms, rehydrated and finely chopped
  • 2 green chilies
  • 3 pieces of ginger
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of rice wine
  • 500 ml of water
  • 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of water
  • oil for deep frying
  • a few drops of sesame oil

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