Beef Balls (Thit Bo Vien)


Course : Appetizers
Serves: 4 - 6
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Ingredients:


1/2 cup nuocmam -- (vietnamese fish sauce)

2 tablespoon potato starch

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 pounds trimmed boneless beef hind shank

4 cloves garlic -- crushed

1 teaspoon oriental sesame oil

1 Cup vegetable oil -- for shaping meatballs
 

Preparation / Directions:


1.In a shallow dish, mix the fish sauce, potato starch, baking powder, sugar and black pepper. 2.Slice the meat into 1/8-inch-thick pieces. Add to the marinade and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. 3.Before proceeding, transfer the meat to the freezer for 30 minutes. Work with half of the beef at a time; do not overload the work bowl. 4.In a food processor, combine half of the beef with half of the garlic and sesame oil. Process to a completely smooth but stiff paste, about 3 minutes. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the work bowl. The completed paste should spring back to the touch. 5.Transfer the paste to a bowl. Process the remaining beef, garlic and sesame oil the same way. 6.Rub some vegetable oil on one hand. Grab a handful of the meat paste and close your hand into a fist, squeezing out a small portion of the mixture, about 1 teaspoon, between your thumb and index finger. Keep rolling and squeezing the same portion between your thumb and index finger until you obtain a smooth rounded ball. Scoop out the meatball with an oiled spoon. Repeat until all of the paste is used. 7.Pour 1 inch of water into a wok or wide pot. Place a steamer rack or bamboo steamer over the water. Arrange the meatballs without crowding in a single layer on the rack. Cover and steam for 5 minutes. 8.Serve as an appetizer with chili sauce. These beef balls can also be added to a well-seasoned beef broth, sprinkled with chopped scallions and black pepper and served as a soup (noodles may be added). NOTE: These meatballs may be frozen. Thaw them thoroughly, then steam or simmer in boiling water until just heated through.


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