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Dinner recipe · from the recipe book

Ginger Pork Meatballs with Mint-Cilantro Sauce

Juicy, gingery pork and zucchini meatballs are drizzled with a bright, tangy mint-cilantro sauce and served over a crunchy rice noodle salad with peanuts.

Ginger Pork Meatballs with Mint-Cilantro Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 lb500 gGround pork, 84% lean
  • 1¼ cups chopped150 gZucchinicoarsely grated and squeezed dry
  • ⅓ cup40 gPlain dry breadcrumbs
  • 1 large50 gEggsbeaten
  • 3 cloves9 gGarlicminced
  • 1½ tbsp grated10 gFresh gingerfinely grated
  • 3 medium45 gGreen onionsthinly sliced
  • 1¾ tsp10 gFish sauce
  • ¼ tsp2 gSalt
  • ½ tsp1 gBlack pepper
  • 1¾ cups chopped30 gFresh cilantroleaves and tender stems
  • 3½ tbsp chopped20 gFresh mintleaves only
  • 1 whole14 gJalapeñoseeded and chopped
  • 1 lime, juiced44 gLime juice
  • 1½ tsp10 gHoney
  • 2 tbsp30 gCanola oil
  • 2 tbsp30 gWater
  • 7 oz200 gRice noodles, dry
  • 4¼ cups chopped200 gRomaine lettucechopped
  • 2 cups sliced200 gCucumbercut into thin matchsticks
  • 2 medium120 gCarrotscut into thin matchsticks
  • ¼ cup40 gDry-roasted peanuts, unsaltedroughly chopped

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Prep first: grate and squeeze the zucchini, mince the garlic, grate the ginger, and slice the green onion, setting aside two-thirds of the green onion for the meatballs and one-third for the salad.
  3. In a large bowl, mix the egg, breadcrumbs, zucchini, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, salt, black pepper and the two-thirds portion of green onion. Add the ground pork and mix gently until just combined.
  4. Roll the pork mixture into about 20 balls, set them on the baking sheet, and bake 16 to 18 minutes until browned and the centers reach 160°F (71°C).
  5. While the meatballs bake, cook the rice noodles in a pot of boiling water according to the package, then drain, rinse under cold water and drain well.
  6. Make the herb sauce: blend the cilantro, mint, jalapeño, lime juice, honey, canola oil and water until smooth.
  7. Toss the rice noodles with the romaine, cucumber, carrot and the remaining one-third of green onion, then divide among four plates.
  8. Top each salad with meatballs, spoon the herb sauce over the meatballs and salad, and sprinkle with the peanuts.

Check labels: Dairy-free when you buy plain dry breadcrumbs made without milk.

Contains: Egg, Fish, Peanuts, Gluten. Some brands contain milk, soy.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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