Hoisin Glazed Pork Meatballs

Ingredients:

Meatballs

• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 3 cups finely shredded cabbage (about a quarter of a head)
• 220 g shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps thinly sliced
• 2 large eggs + 1 egg white
• 700 g of minced pork
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 5 cm ginger root, peeled and finely grated (about 1 tbsp.)
• 3 tablespoons lightly salted soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dark sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 2 tsp cornstarch

Sauce

• 0.5 cup hoisin sauce
• 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
• 1 tsp. rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1 head Boston lettuce, leaves separated

Preparation:

1. Prepare the meatballs:
   
   Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer the cabbage to a plate and let cool.
2. Wipe out the skillet, then add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and the mushrooms. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a few turns of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a plate with the cabbage and let them cool.
3. Preheat oven to 200°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Lightly beat the eggs and egg whites in a large bowl. Add the ground pork, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and cornstarch. Add the cabbage, mushrooms, and a few turns of the black peppercorn grinder and mix with your hands (do not pack the mixture too tightly). Wet your hands with water and form the meat mixture into 18 balls (about 5 cm each); place them on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Prepare the sauce:
   
   Combine hoisin sauce, Sriracha, vinegar, sugar, and 1 tablespoon water in a bowl; set aside 1/2 cup of the sauce for serving. Brush the meatballs with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
6. Bake until cooked through, 18–22 minutes. Serve on lettuce leaves with the glaze.