Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Sweet and Sour Meatballs combine ground chicken with aromatic shallots, garlic, ginger, and Chinese five spice for a flavorful base. The meatballs are baked until cooked through and then simmered with bell peppers, pineapple chunks, and a homemade sweet and sour sauce, delivering a balance of savory, sweet, and tangy notes. The sesame oil adds a subtle nutty layer, while sesame seeds and spring onions provide a fresh garnish. This dish works well served over rice, offering a textured contrast between tender meatballs and crisp vegetables.
Ingredients
- 300 g chicken breast ground in to mince
- 2 portion sweet and sour sauce homemade
- 3 shallot finely diced
- 0.5 teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 2 garlic crushed, clove
- 30 g ginger grated, fresh
- 1 egg
- 50 g panko breadcrumbs
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 100 g pineapple chunks
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- sesame seeds (for serving)
- spring onion for serving, aka scallion
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.
- Grind 300 g Chicken breast into mince.
- Add the chicken mince to a bowl with 3 Shallots, 0.5 teaspoon Chinese five spice, 2 Garlic clove, 30 g Fresh ginger, 1 Egg, 50 g Panko breadcrumbs and 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper.
- Mix well and then form into meatballs. Refrigerate for 15 mins.
- Put the meatballs on a baking tray and bake for 12-15 mins until cooked through.
- Heat 1 tablespoon Sesame oil in a pan and add 1 Green bell pepper and cook for 4 mins. Add the cooked meatballs, 100 g Pineapple chunks and 2 portion Homemade sweet and sour sauce. Heat through.
- Serve over rice topped with Sesame seeds and Spring onion (Scallion) (optional).
Notes
- Use an ice cream scoop to form evenly sized meatballs for consistent cooking.
- Chill the shaped meatballs in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking to help them keep their shape.
- Chicken thighs can substitute chicken breast for juicier meatballs.
- Add red chili flakes before serving to increase spiciness if desired.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 480
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1portion | |
| Calories | 480kcal | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 55g | 18% |
| Protein | 41g | 82% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 178mg | 59% |
| Sodium | 677mg | 28% |
| Potassium | 1102mg | 23% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 32g | 64% |
| Vitamin A | 461IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 61mg | 68% |
| Calcium | 108mg | 11% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.