Shanghai-Style Sweet Soy Glazed Lion's Head Meatballs

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Large, tender pork meatballs simmered in a sweet and savory soy glaze, a classic Shanghainese comfort dish. This Chinese-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs ground pork (with 20% fat), green onions, ginger for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 35 min Serves 4 Chinese cuisine 400 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground pork, 3 stalks finely chopped green onions, 1 tbsp grated ginger, 1 large egg, and 2 tbsp cornstarch. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is sticky and well blended.
  2. Step 2: Shape the mixture into 4 large meatballs about 3 inches in diameter.
  3. Step 3: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides for about 5-6 minutes total until golden but not fully cooked.
  4. Step 4: In a separate bowl, mix 3 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine, 1 tbsp rock sugar, and 2 cups chicken broth.
  5. Step 5: Pour the sauce over the browned meatballs, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 25 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
  6. Step 6: Serve the meatballs with steamed rice and spoon the glossy sauce over top.

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