Lion's Head Meatballs (Shīzi Tóu)

Name: Lion's Head Meatballs (Shīzi Tóu)
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Cuisine: Chinese, Asian
Ingredients: 3/4 teaspoon, baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon, table salt; 2 pounds, ground pork; 1 , large egg, lightly beaten; 2 , scallions, white parts minced, green parts sliced thin; 2 tablespoons, soy sauce; 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or, dry sherry; 4 teaspoons, sugar; 2 teaspoons, grated fresh ginger; 1/2 teaspoon, white pepper; 4 cups, chicken broth; 1 small head, napa cabbage (1½ pounds), quartered lengthwise, cored, and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces; 4 ounces, rice vermicelli

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Appears in Cook's Illustrated January/February 2020

SERVES4 to 6

TIME2 hours

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WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

These giant, savory, tender-yet-springy pork meatballs from eastern China are pure comfort food. For a streamlined approach, we started with commercial ground pork. We treated the meat with a baking soda solution before cooking, which helpe...

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