Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs
Super simple sweet and sour pork meatballs are really easy to make and have become a firm family favourite!
This recipe for sweet and sour pork balls has very quickly become a family fave! I don’t know if it’s the sugar in the sauce or the novelty but my little one loves them. In the name of educating him on different food tastes, I don’t mind him having sugar in his food every now and then!
We like to serve ours with rice, but also sweet potato wedges if we get bored of rice too often. When testing this recipe, we did exactly that, hence the lack of rice you often see paired with this sort of recipe. They do go really well, I must say.
Sweet and sour balls could become part of your weekly cooking schedule, fast! It’s such a simple one to prepare, from mixing all the meatball ingredients together, whacking them in the oven and making the sauce (which is pimps squeak, honestly!) Trust me, I’m a mother!
Why should I make these sweet and sour balls?
- Once you’ve made your own sweet and sour sauce, you won’t go back!
- Only 30 minutes in total from prep to make!
- Great for using store cupboard stock – very economical.
- Can be served with chips, rice or on their own – a versatile meal.
Timings
Prep Time
10 mins
Cooktime
20 mins
Total time
30 mins
Servings
2-3
Ingredients
- 500g pork mince
- A pinch of salt
- A grind of pepper
- 25g dried breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp garlic, crushed
- 1 spring onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 170ml pineapple juice
- 50ml rice vinegar (or mirin)
- 60ml ketchup (tomato sauce)
- 70g soft light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
How to Make Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs
- Step 1 – Place all the ingredients for the meat balls in a bowl and scrunch together with your hands until all combined.
- Step 2 – Line a tray with greaseproof paper and shape the mince into 10 balls (more or less, depending on the size you go for), placing them on the tray as you go. Bake in a hot oven (about 190° /170° fan) for 20 minutes or until cooked through.
- Step 3 – Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the water and cornflour to form a paste. Leave aside.
- Step 4 – Pour all the ingredients for the sauce (apart from cornflour mix) into a pan and whisk to combine. Leave to simmer.
- Step 5 – Pour in the cornflour and whisk until thickened and bubbling. Pour all over meatballs when serving or use to dip.
Equipment Needed
- Medium bowl
- Chopping board
- Small knife
- Measuring spoons
- Garlic crusher (or use a knife – see tip below)
- Small saucepan
- Weighing scales
- Baking tray
- Greaseproof paper
- Whisk
Sweet and Sour Meatballs Step-by-Step Method
Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I use beef mince?
Beef mince would be fine to use, although usually sweet and sour is usually eaten with pork.
Would fresh breadcrumbs work?
I would only use fresh if quite stale and dry. You don’t want to use bread that is too fresh as it will be too moist and go a bit soggy. I’d suggest chopping it into cubes, giving it a bit of toast in the oven and then chopping finely.
What about maple syrup or agave?
Yep, both would be ok to use. A great idea if you are vegan.
Can I make the sweet and sour sauce with apple juice?
A friend asked me this exact question and even though I haven’t tried it, I reckon it would be ok. I’d hope this apple juice was quite dry and not too sweet, as you want a bit of tang from the sauce, like you find in pineapple. Give it a go and be sure to let me know!
What other sugars would work?
A brown sugar would work better but if really desperate, any sugar will do.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve my sweet and sour balls with basmati rice. We do 1 cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water (roughly). If I’m serving 2 people, I’ll do 2 cups of rice and 3 cups of water. I bring it to the boil, cover and cook in the oven at 140 for 20 minutes for the fluffiest rice (Aga simmering oven if you have one).
You could also try my easy coconut milk rice recipe or a delicious Brazilian white rice (garlic is added!) Both would pair well.
It’s also lovely to serve these with sweet potato wedges like we did when testing this recipe. My peri-peri sweet potato wedges would go so well!
Batch-cook me!
This recipe makes around 10 balls (depending on the size you roll them). You could easily double up and freeze some before cooking, for another day. I do love a bit of batch-cooking. It saves so much time for a later date!
Tips
You can crush your garlic cloves without a crusher by using the side of your knife. Carefully place the side of a chef’s knife (a big surface area) onto the garlic and push down with your hand to crush it. This will really ensure you get a lovely, strong flavour. Next, finely chop up this crushed clove, and you’re done!
Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs
Ingredients
- 500 g pork mince
- A pinch salt
- ground black pepper
- 25 g dried breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp garlic clove crushed
- 1 spring onion sliced
Sweet and sour sauce
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 2 tbsp water
- 170 ml pineapple juice
- 50 ml rice vinegar
- 60 ml ketchup
- 70 g Soft light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients for the meat balls in a bowl and scrunch together with your hands until all combined.
- Line a tray with greaseproof paper and shape the mince into 10 balls (more or less, depending on the size you go for), placing them on the tray as you go. Bake in a hot oven (about 190° /170° fan) for 20 minutes or until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the water and cornflour to form a paste. Leave aside.
- Pour all the ingredients for the sauce (apart from cornflour mix) into a pan and whisk to combine. Leave to simmer.
- Pour in the cornflour and whisk until thickened and bubbling. Pour all over meatballs when serving or use to dip.
Notes
More pork recipes –
For more delicious pork recipes, try my Best Pork Schnitzel, heralding from Austria. Or my British Frying Pan Toad in the Hole. They’re the perfect quick and tasty mid-week meals.
