If you’re not set up for grilling or the weather doesn’t permit, a cast-iron grill pan will also do the trick for making these spicy, gingery, umami-packed meatballs. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your skillet.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 20
Ingredients
1
5
2
2
½
¼
4
4
½
2
Special Equipment
Preparation
Step 1
If you’re using wooden skewers, soak in water 30 minutes.
Step 2
Finely grate ginger and 4 garlic cloves into a medium bowl. Add pork, salt, ½ cup cilantro, ¼ cup chili paste, 2 Tbsp. fish sauce, and 2 tsp. sugar and mix well with your hands to combine.
Step 3
Form pork mixture into 20 oblong (football-ish) balls. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet or large plate and chill at least 15 minutes and up to 8 hours.
Step 4
Meanwhile, whisk lime juice and remaining 1 Tbsp. cilantro, 2 tsp. chili paste, 2 Tbsp. fish sauce, 2 tsp. sugar, and 2 Tbsp. water in a small bowl until combined. Finely grate remaining garlic clove into nuoc cham and stir to combine.
Step 5
Prepare a grill for medium heat. Lightly oil grate. Thread 2 balls lengthwise onto 2 skewers, repeating to make 10 skewers with 2 meatballs on each. (Using 2 skewers stabilizes the meatballs so that they won’t spin around when you turn them on the grill.)
Step 6
Drizzle meatballs with 2 Tbsp. oil. Grill meatballs, turning occasionally, until well charred and just cooked through, 7–9 minutes. Let cool slightly. Remove from skewers and transfer to a platter. Serve nuoc cham alongside.
How would you rate Grilled Spicy Pork Meatballs with Nuoc Cham?
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Reviews (9)
Back to TopDelicious! It was a bit on the salty side so I will definitely reduce the amount of salt added on top of the fish sauce next time. Didn’t have a grill so just seared the meatballs deeply on all sides in a pan.
Anonymous
San Diego
7/4/2020
Bon Appétit does it again! Used a cast iron skillet on medium and worked in 2 batches. I would forego the 2 tsp salt next time since the fish sauce adds enough saltiness. We wrapped these up in fresh lettuce with rice and cucumbers. Amazing.
Monica Pavs
San Jose
8/28/2019
Absolutely delicious and easy to make . We used beef instead of pork since that’s what was on hand. Could also see turkey being great. I would like to live in the nuoc cham sauce.
Anonymous
NC
8/8/2019
❤️ ❤️ Absolutely drop dead gorgeous ❤️ ❤️ Molly URA⭐
Nottingham UK
7/13/2019
Great recipe!! Would definitely make again
Anonymous
7/8/2019
"You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your skillet." - there's no skillet in the recipe, did you mean grill?
halpwr
New york
7/8/2019
Wonderful recipe, wouldn’t change a thing.
Ebraun156
White Plains, MD
7/6/2019