Thai Spiced Pork Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs doesn’t have to be a strictly red-sauce affair. In fact, we’re taking the dish on a journey to Asia with this spin. Bouncy soba noodles are tossed with ground pork meatballs seasoned in our Thai-style blend of garlic, sesame, and spices, plus there’s broccoli to keep things green. It’s just as fun to twirl around your fork (or chopsticks), too!
Equipment
- 1 Large Pan
- 1 Chef Knife
- 1 Wooden Spoon
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Large Pot
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Small Bowl
- 1 Strainer
Ingredients
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 1 Thai Chili
- 2 Scallions
- 16 oz Broccoli Florets
- 1 Lime
- 20 oz Ground Pork Ground Turkey also works
- 2 tsp Thai Seasoning
- 6 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1 tbsp Seasame Oil
- 16 oz Soba Noodles
Instructions
- Wash and dry all produce. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Mince garlic. Finely chop chili, removing ribs and seeds for less heat. Trim, then thinly slice scallions, keeping greens and whites separate. Cut any big broccoli florets into small, bite-size pieces. Halve lime.
- Combine pork, scallion whites, Thai seasoning, half the garlic, and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl (we used ½ tsp kosher salt). Form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 2-4 minutes. Pour ¼ cup water into pan, cover, and let meatballs steam until nearly cooked through, 2-3 minutes. Uncover, reduce heat to low, and let water evaporate.
- Remove meatballs from pan and set aside on a plate. Heat another drizzle of oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Add broccoli and cook, tossing, until tender and lightly crisped, 3-4 minutes. (TIP: If you’re having trouble getting the broccoli to cook, add 1 TBSP water to pan to steam it.) Season with salt and pepper. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add the noodles from package to pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring, until al dente, 2-3 minutes. Drain using strainer, then rinse under cold water. Add remaining garlic, chili (to taste), and a drizzle of oil to pan used for broccoli over medium-high heat. Cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add noodles and toss to loosen. Stir together 3 TBSP soy sauce, ½ TBSP honey, sesame oil, and ¼ cup water in a small bowl.
- Lower heat under pan with noodles to medium and add another drizzle of oil. Add meatballs, broccoli, and soy sauce mixture to pan. Cook, tossing, until combined and sauce clings to noodles, 1-2 minutes. Divide between bowls, then top with scallion greens and squeeze over a bit of lime.