Braised Lion's Head
Braised Lion's Head is a traditional Chinese dish featuring tender pork meatballs infused with fragrant seasonings, slowly braised in a savory broth. This hearty dish is perfect for a protein-rich side, served alongside steamed rice or vegetables.

60 minutes
Difficulty: Medium
Chinese
400 kcal
Ingredients
- Ground pork - 300 grams
- Water - 60 ml
- Ginger - 1 tablespoon, minced
- Garlic - 1 tablespoon, minced
- Green onions - 2, finely chopped
- Soy sauce - 2 tablespoons
- Shaoxing wine - 1 tablespoon
- Sesame oil - 1 teaspoon
- Cornstarch - 1 tablespoon
- Salt - 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper - 1/2 teaspoon
- Cabbage leaves - 4 large, blanched
- Chicken broth - 500 ml
- Star anise - 1
- Sugar - 1 teaspoon
Steps
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground pork, minced ginger, minced garlic, chopped green onions, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Form the mixture into four large meatballs, about 75 grams each.
- In a large pot, bring the chicken broth to a simmer. Add the star anise and sugar.
- Carefully place the meatballs into the simmering broth, ensuring they are submerged.
- Cover the pot and braise the meatballs on low heat for about 30 minutes, turning them halfway through.
- While the meatballs are braising, prepare the blanched cabbage leaves by placing them in a serving dish.
- Once the meatballs are cooked, gently transfer them onto the cabbage leaves in the serving dish.
- Strain the broth to remove the star anise and pour over the meatballs before serving.
Nutrition
- Calories: 400
- Protein: 30 g
- Carbs: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
- Total Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Water: 0.6 L
Health Benefits
- High in protein, supporting muscle growth and repair.
- Contains ginger and garlic, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Tags
ChineseHigh ProteinSide Dish