Savory Snow Balls. These pork and shiitake meatballs covered in sweet rice do look like mini snowballs and make the table so festive. They take under ten minutes in a steamer and can be steamed at the table.
WHAT WENT IN
— 3/4 cup sweet rice, rinsed and soaked in water for 2 hours
— yuzu-kosho, for serving
FOR THE MEATBALLS
— 1 Tbsp sake
— 1/2 tsp salt
— 1 lb ground pork
— 1 large egg
— 3 medium dried shiitake mushrooms, rehydrated stemmed, and diced small
— 1/4 cup minced onion
— 1 small clove garlic, finely grated
— 1 tsp finely grated peeled fresh ginger
— 2 1/2 Tbsp potato starch
— 2 Tbsp sake
— 1 tsp soy sauce
— 1/4 tsp sea salt
— 1/4 tsp black pepper
— 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
THE PROCESS
1. Combine all the ingredients for the meatballs together and mix them in thoroughly. Divide the mixture in 16 balls about 1 1/2” in diameter.
2. Drain rice very well.
3. Dip each meatball into rice and press so it will stick.
4. Line up a steamer either with Napa leaves or parchment paper and place meatballs on top.
5. Bring the water in a steamer to a rolling boil and steam meatballs covered for about 20 minutes.
6. Serve with yuzu-kosho at the table.
