How to Make Chinese Meatball Soup
This is a simple Chinese meatball soup recipe perfect for beginners, with easy steps that take just 15 minutes to complete.
For meatball soup, we recommend using pork with a 70% lean, 30% fat ratio—this balance ensures the pork meatballs in broth are savory and delicious without being greasy.
Today’s meatball soup recipe is incredibly simple—even if you’re a complete novice in the kitchen, you’ll breeze through it. Now, let me walk you through how to make this delicious meatball soup!
Ingredients for Meatball Soup
You’ll need the following ingredients: scallions, ginger, salt, chicken bouillon powder, ground white pepper, eggs, potato starch, sesame oil, and greens.
Steps for Making Meatball Soup:
Step 1. Preparing the Ginger-Scallion Infusion
First, let’s prepare the ginger-scallion infusion. Slice some scallions and ginger into thin strips and place them in a bowl. Sprinkle a small handful of Sichuan peppercorns over them, then pour in 200 ml of warm water. Mix by hand until combined, releasing the aromatic flavors from the seasonings. Let it steep for ten minutes, and your ginger-scallion infusion is ready.
Step 2. Preparing the Pork
Rinse the prepared pork thoroughly, cut it into small pieces, and place them in a meat grinder. Grind until you achieve a smooth, fine paste.
Step 3. Firming the Meat Paste
Transfer the ground meat directly into a large bowl. First, add 100 ml of the scallion-ginger water prepared earlier. Then, season with salt, chicken bouillon powder, and ground black pepper. Finally, beat in one egg white. Use your hands to mix these seasonings thoroughly into the meat paste. Next, vigorously stir the mixture in one direction to make the meat paste firmer.
Step 4. Thicken the Meat Mixture
After stirring for a while, add 100 ml of the scallion-ginger water. Continue stirring in the same direction to allow the meat mixture to fully absorb the liquid. Keep stirring until the mixture becomes quite sticky.
Step 5. Making Meatballs
How to make pork meatballs? I recommend adding potato starch in batches. For about 500 grams of minced meat today, roughly 20 grams of starch should suffice. Keep stirring in one direction while gently slapping the mixture. Repeat this process for about 3 to 4 minutes. Finally, test the mixture by gently squeezing a small amount between your fingers. If it forms a round ball, the mixture is ready.
Step 6. Start Cooking the Meatball Soup
Pour an appropriate amount of water into a pot and heat until small bubbles appear at the bottom (about 70–80°C). Reduce the heat to low. Take a small portion of the seasoned meat mixture, shape it into a ball with your hand, then gently lift it with a spoon and place it near the surface of the water in the pot.
Once all meatballs are added, gently nudge them a couple of times with a spatula to ensure even heating. When the surface of the meatballs sets, increase the heat, skim off any foam that rises to the surface, then simmer for two minutes.
Step 7. Seasoning the Meatball Soup
Add a pinch of salt for seasoning, a dash of chicken bouillon to enhance flavor, and a sprinkle of ground black pepper. Finally, add a handful of greens, stir to combine, and remove from heat. Ladle the meatball soup into bowls, drizzle with a few drops of toasted sesame oil for aroma, and garnish with chopped scallions. Enjoy!
Chinese meatball soup is now complete! These bouncy meatballs turn out tender and juicy, with a silky smooth texture that’s absolutely delicious. The broth is incredibly flavorful yet refreshingly light. If you like it, give it a try!
Tips for Making Simple Pork Meatball Soup
1. For firm, delicious meatballs, step 5 above is crucial—watch it multiple times if needed.
2. How to keep meatballs from falling apart? Reduce heat before adding freshly formed meatballs to the pot. Once their surface sets, increase heat again. This prevents them from breaking apart.
Meatball Soup Q&A
Q: Where can I buy the seasonings for homemade meatball soup?
A: You can find them at any Asian grocery store, or order them online.
Q: How should I store leftovers?
Portion them into individual-use amounts, seal them in bags, and refrigerate.
So, did you learn this easy meatball recipe? Give it a try at home! Thanks for your support, and see you next time!
