Ingredients
Ingredients
Meatballs
1 pound 2 ounces ground beef
2 ounces Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 spring onions, finely chopped
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Pinch freshly cracked white pepper
Assembly
3 1/2 ounces groundnut oil (peanut)
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
11 ounces Chinese cabbage, quartered lengthwise from leaf to stem end
3 dried Chinese mushrooms, porcini mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch, blended with 2 tablespoons cold water, optional
Sea salt and freshly cracked white pepper
2 large spring onions (green), sliced
Preparation
For the meatballs: Put the ground beef, rice wine, garlic, spring onions, egg, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, salt, and white pepper into a large bowl to combine, stirring in the same direction.
Using wet hands, scoop a large mound of the ground meat mixture, and mold it into a ball. The size should be a little larger than a golf ball. Transfer the meatball to a plate and repeat with the remaining mixture.
For the assembly: Pour the groundnut oil into a large deep pan, and heat over a high heat. Using a metal ladle, carefully lower each meatball into the oil, and spoon some of the oil over the meatballs. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until browned.
Pour all but 2 tablespoons of oil into a heat-proof bowl. Add the vegetable stock to the pan. Arrange the quarters of Chinese cabbage around the meatballs, curving them lengthwise around the sides of the pan, then add the mushrooms, and soy sauce. Bring everything to a boil. Cover the pan, reduce its heat, and cook gently for 15 minutes. Add the blended cornstarch slurry, if using, and stir until the sauce thickens.
Remove the pan from the heat, and season with salt, and white pepper, to taste, and sprinkle over the spring onion slices. Transfer the dish to a warm serving platter, and serve immediately.
