Si Xi Wan Zi (Four Joys Meatballs)
The bite size is fake!? Tennis Ball Large Lucky Dumpling
Description
Japanese meatballs are small and sweet-sour. Authentic Chinese banquet meatballs are 'tennis-ball-sized, specifically 4 of them (representing Four Joys)'. Deep-fried, then slow-braised in a savory soy broth until fall-apart tender.
Restaurants serving Si Xi Wan Zi (Four Joys Meatballs)
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We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Minced pork belly
- Water chestnuts(or Lotus root)
- Egg
- Soy sauce
- Star anise
- Cinnamon
- Bok choy(garnish)
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe & Differences]
- (Filling) Coarsely chop fatty pork belly (much chunkier than Japanese mince). Mix in minced 'Water Chestnuts (Ma Ti)' or lotus root for crunch. Knead violently with salt, soy, sesame oil, scallion-ginger water, egg, and starch until sticky.
- (Size) Divide into
- equal portions. Toss them back and forth between your hands like a baseball to remove air, forming 'massive, tennis-ball-sized spheres'.
- Drop into 180°C oil and flash-fry until the crust is golden and set (do not cook through).
- In a pot, fry scallion, ginger, star anise, cinnamon. Boil soy, dark soy, sugar, and massive broth.
- Drop the giant balls in, cover, and slow-braise for 1-
- hours until they melt at the touch of a chopstick.
- Serve the
- balls over blanched bok choy, covered entirely in the thickened, premium braising gravy.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Star anise and soy aroma、Intense pork meat juices
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Japanese sweet & sour meatballs (scale and flavor totally differ)
Pairing
Shaoxing Wine / White Rice
Trivia
[Trivia] 'Si Xi' represents the 4 joys: 'Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, Happiness'. It is an ABSOLUTELY mandatory lucky dish at Chinese weddings and New Year banquets. It's said a banquet hasn't started without it.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Because they are too massive to pick up, use a spoon and chopsticks to break them apart like a cake. The contrast between the roasted fried crust and the fluffy, juice-oozing interior is irresistible.
Allergen
Pork, Wheat, Soybeans, Eggs