pork & lemongrass meatballs in lettuce cups

I got this recipe from bon appetit.  This recipe is a bit more complicated then some of the others I have posted.  We typically have most of these ingredients in our pantry/fridge because we cook a lot of Asian foods.  I served this with some cilantro lime rice.  Casey, Nick & I gobbled this meal up! 

xoxo
Mel

Pork and Lemongrass Meatballs in Lettuce Cups

These Vietnamese-style meatballs can be assembled a day ahead.

4 servings

• PREP TIME: 30 minutes
• TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes

Recipe by Ivy Manning
Photograph by Adrian Gaut

March 2011

Ingredients

meatballs

• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 lemongrass stalk, bottom 5 inches only, smashed with rolling pin, then minced
• 1/4 cup chopped shallots
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce (such as nam pla or nuoc nam)
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

dipping sauce and assembly

• 1 lemongrass stalk
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons coarsely grated carrot
• 4 teaspoons (packed) golden brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons minced green Thai chile or serrano chile with seeds
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 head of butter lettuce, leaves separated
• 1 small Persian cucumber, thinly sliced

• ingredient info

  Fish sauce can be found in the Asian foods section of many supermarkets.

Preparation

meatballs

• Chill pork in freezer while making lemongrass paste. Combine lemongrass, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining ingredients in processor; pulse until paste forms. Add chilled pork; pulse to blend. Shape into 24 balls (each about 1 tablespoonful). Place on rimmed baking sheet. Cover; chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.

dipping sauce and assembly

• Cut bottom 3 inches from lemongrass. Smash with rolling pin, then mince. Measure 1 tablespoon and place in small bowl (reserve the rest for another use). Add lime juice, fish sauce, cilantro, carrot, sugar, and chile to bowl; whisk until sugar dissolves.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs; brown until cooked through, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes. Transfer to 1 side of large platter.
• Arrange lettuce leaves and cucumber on platter with meatballs. Allow guests to place meatballs in leaves, garnish with cucumber, and drizzle dipping sauce over.