Lion's Head Meatballs (Huaiyang Braised Giant Meatballs)
箸で持てない柔らかさ！ライオンの頭ほど巨大な「究極のフワフワ肉団子」
Description
A world-famous masterpiece representing Jiangsu (Huaiyang) cuisine. Giant, softball-sized pork meatballs are braised for hours in a premium clear chicken broth or soy-based soup until falling-apart tender. The bumpy surface resembles a lion's head, hence the name.
Restaurants serving Lion's Head Meatballs (Huaiyang Braised Giant Meatballs)
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The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Pork(lean and fat)
- Water chestnut(or lotus root)
- Egg white
- Ginger
- Scallion
- Napa cabbage
- Superior broth
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- (Hand-chopping) NEVER use a meat grinder. Meticulously hand-chop lean pork and fat (6:
- golden ratio) into rice-grain-sized bits. This preserves fibers for the ultimate texture.
- Mix with salt, scallion/ginger juice, egg white, starch, and minced water chestnuts (or lotus root).
- Violently slam the meat into a bowl to expel air, forming giant round meatballs.
- Flash-fry or blanch to set the surface.
- Line a claypot with Napa cabbage, place the meatballs, and flood with premium clear broth.
- Braise on low for
- hours until the meat reaches the absolute limit of fluffiness.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Pure umami of hand-chopped meat and the crunchy texture of water chestnuts、シャキシャキしたクワイの食感
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Mix JP coarse minced pork with minced lotus root and braise in a claypot for hours
Pairing
Jasmine Tea / Shaoxing Wine
Trivia
Originally created for Emperor Yang of Sui who ordered four dishes representing Yangzhou landscapes. Later renamed 'Lion's Head' due to its majestic appearance. It is an indispensable main dish at Jiangnan banquets.
Eating tips & etiquette
It is too soft to lift with chopsticks. Use a spoon to break it apart and eat it with the broth. The meat melts like snow, revealing the pleasant crunch of the water chestnuts. The cabbage, infused with all the meat umami, is exquisite.
Allergen
Pork, Eggs, Soybeans, Wheat