How to Make Tender Chinese Pork Meatball Soup at Home

Many people make a small mistake at the very first step when cooking Chinese meatball soup.Today I’m sharing a unique new recipe with you all. The result is a flavorful broth with tender, juicy meatballs and no unpleasant smell. Follow along as I walk you through the preparation steps!

Delicious Meatball Recipe:

1. Prepare the Pork

First, prepare a piece of pork shoulder. Separate the lean and fatty parts, then cut them into pieces. Remove the pork skin and discard it. Then slice the fat into thick pieces, roughly the same size as the lean meat pieces. Cut the lean meat into similar-sized pieces.

2. Grind the Meat

Once both fat and lean meat are cut, place them into a meat grinder. Cover it and grind the meat into mince. The blend of lean and fatty pork gives the meatballs a springy, juicy texture. (Hand-chopping yields superior texture.) After grinding for about 1 minute, the meat should be finely minced.

3. Mixing

Remove the blade and mix the meat thoroughly with chopsticks or a spoon. Transfer the mixture directly into a large bowl. Set aside once fully combined.

4. Essential seasonings for authentic Chinese-style meatballs

Next, prepare 250g of scallions. Slice them into thin strips and place them in a bowl. Prepare a piece of ginger, cut it into thin strips, and combine it with the scallions. Then take a handful of Sichuan peppercorns and add a little warm water.

Squeeze the ginger and scallion mixture by hand to extract the juice. This scallion-ginger juice, combined with the Sichuan peppercorns, adds aroma and helps reduce any meaty smell. (After mixing well, strain the liquid and add it to the minced meat.) Add one tablespoon of salt, some ground black pepper, and a small amount of oyster sauce.

Finally, crack in an egg. Put on disposable gloves and mix the ground meat thoroughly by hand until it becomes sticky and slightly tacky. Add a splash of scallion-ginger water. This infuses flavor into the meat and helps achieve a sticky consistency. Once absorbed, add more scallion-ginger water to enhance the meatballs’ texture. Mix until the mixture feels bouncy and elastic—stir for at least two to three minutes.

5. Add starch to form meatballs

Add one tablespoon of starch to the minced meat. After adding the starch, mix thoroughly by hand. The starch enhances the meat’s elasticity, improving its texture—a secret technique rarely shared by restaurants. Pinch a portion of the mixture between your thumb and index finger to form a meatball. Set aside for later use.

6. Preparing the Chinese-style Meatball Soup

Prepare 2–3 stalks of scallions, finely chopped. Finely chop the scallions and set them aside in a bowl. If available, prepare some cilantro. Trim the roots and chop into small sections, then combine with the scallions. Next, take a large bowl. Add a spoonful of pork lard (or cooking oil if preferred). Place it in the bowl. Add a spoonful of light soy sauce, soy sauce, a small amount of salt, and a dash of oyster sauce for umami. Add a spoonful of ground black pepper, a little sesame oil, and a small pinch of chicken bouillon powder (optional). Add a small amount of dried shrimp for extra nutrition. Finally, add all the chopped scallions and cilantro.

Bring water to a rolling boil in a pot before adding the meatballs one by one. Crucially, ensure the water is vigorously boiling before adding the meatballs. Adding them to cold water will make the meatballs lose elasticity and result in a less desirable texture. After adding all meatballs, skim off any foam that rises to the surface.

Gently stir the meatballs to prevent sticking, being careful not to stir too vigorously. After boiling for 1 minute, add a spoonful of cold water. This step firms up the meatballs and enhances their springiness. Once all meatballs float to the surface, they’re nearly done. Transfer the cooking broth to a large bowl, then add the meatballs.

Meatballs made this way turn out incredibly tender and flavorful—even more so than restaurant versions. Plus, making them at home ensures cleanliness and minimal added seasonings. Give it a try if you’re interested!