Best Lionhead Meatball Soup Recipes

CHINESE LION'S HEAD SOUP

Chinese Lion's Head Soup image

This is my family's version of lion's head soup and for me it is the best type of comfort food! It is best served with white sticky rice, and wonderful enjoyed on a cold winter day.

Provided by Lei Lei Wyatt

Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes

Time 35m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 pound ground pork
1 egg
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
¼ teaspoon monosodium glutamate (MSG)
1 teaspoon salt
2 green onions, chopped and divided
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 head napa cabbage, cored and cut into chunks
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water, or as needed
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil

Steps:

Mix the ground pork, egg, cornstarch, 2 teaspoons of sesame oil, ginger, monosodium glutamate, salt, and half of the chopped green onions together in a bowl. Use your hands to mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Set aside.
Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, fry the napa cabbage, stirring constantly, until cabbage begins to wilt, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth, water, and soy sauce. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium.
Use a spoon to form the meat mixture into 1 inch balls. Drop them into the boiling soup. When the last ball has been added, cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste, and adjust salt before serving. Garnish with remaining green onions and a drizzle of sesame oil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 431.1 calories, Carbohydrate 7.1 g, Cholesterol 130.2 mg, Fat 34 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 24.1 g, SaturatedFat 10.8 g, Sodium 990.6 mg, Sugar 2.4 g

LION'S HEAD MEATBALLS

Lion's Head Meatballs image

People throw out the term "melt-in-your-mouth" pretty casually, but these meatballs really are. Some people think the name comes from their large size, while others believe eating these gives you the strength of a lion, but the actual answer is not quite as mythical. The look of this crinkled-up napa cabbage reminded the inventors of this dish of a lion's mane.

Provided by Chef John

Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Chinese

Time 2h15m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 24

Ingredients

1 ½ cups boiling water
1 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms
¼ cup minced canned water chestnuts
1 (8 ounce) container firm tofu, chopped into small bits
1 pound fatty ground pork (at least 20% fat)
¼ cup finely sliced green onions (white and light green parts only)
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 ½ teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger
2 tablespoons Shao Hsing rice wine or dry sherry (see Note)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 large egg
1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
1 small head napa cabbage
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sherry wine
½ teaspoon sesame oil, or to taste
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
¼ cup sliced green onion tops
2 tablespoons hot chili oil

Steps:

Pour boiling water over shiitake mushrooms, and let sit until soft enough to slice, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, combine chestnuts and tofu in a large bowl. Add ground pork, green onions, garlic, and ginger. Pour in rice wine, soy sauce, salt, cayenne, brown sugar, and egg. Dust with cornstarch. Mix with a clean hand until thoroughly combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Form mixture into 6 large meatballs with wet hands.
Set an oven rack about 8 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and oil lightly. Place meatballs on the prepared baking sheet.
Broil in the preheated oven until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool while prepping the pot.
Trim off the bottom of the head of cabbage and slice 1/2 of the head. Arrange sliced cabbage on the bottom of a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Arrange the remaining leaves on the top. Slice and scatter the mushrooms on top of the cabbage; reserve shiitake liquid. Nestle the meatballs into the cabbage leaves and pour juices over.
Strain reserved shiitake liquid into a bowl. Add chicken broth, soy sauce, sherry, sesame oil, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Whisk until dissolved. Add to the pot, pouring over each meatball. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Uncover and raise heat to medium-high. Continue cooking, basting the meatballs often, until liquid reduces slightly and meatballs are no longer pink in the centers, about 10 minutes. Taste for seasoning.
Ladle into serving bowls and arrange cabbage over the meatballs. Top with green onions and chili oil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 315.4 calories, Carbohydrate 18.5 g, Cholesterol 82.1 mg, Fat 18.1 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 20.6 g, SaturatedFat 5.2 g, Sodium 1607.8 mg, Sugar 7.4 g

LION'S HEAD STEW

Lion's Head Stew image

Provided by Ming Tsai

Categories main-dish

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

2 pounds coarsely ground fatty pork
1/2 cup ginger-scallion water (1 cup cold water, 3 large, peeled slices ginger, 3 chopped
scallions - all blended together and strained)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Canola oil, to cook
Cornstarch, to coat
1 medium head Napa cabbage, save 4 large leaves, cut remainder into 1-inch slices
Chinese clay pot with cover
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 large pieces dried tangerine peel
8 dried black mushrooms, rinsed, rehydrated, de-stemmed and halved
6 cups chicken stock
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Steps:

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the pork with the ginger-scallion water, eggs and season. Throw the pork in a bowl 10 times to compact the meat together. Preheat a large skillet and coat with oil. Make 8 large meatballs and coat with cornstarch. Only brown the meatballs on all sides. Do not cook them through, then drain on paper towels. Place sliced cabbage in the clay pot and top with meatballs. Mix sugar with soy sauces to dissolve and add to pot. Add peel, mushrooms and stock. Check for seasoning. (The flavor of the broth will eventually be the flavor of the meatballs/cabbage, season well.) Top the meatballs with the whole cabbage leaves and cover. Place in the oven and braise for 3 hours.
PLATING Serve the clay pot family style with small bowls of steamed rice.