Pearl Balls or Chinese Sticky Rice Meatballs, 珍珠丸子 (Vegan)

Pearl Balls, also known as Chinese Sticky Rice Meatballs (珍珠丸子), are a delightful and visually appealing dish often enjoyed during festive occasions like Lunar New Year. These meatballs are coated with glutinous rice, giving them a pearly appearance, hence the name. The vegan version of this dish is equally delicious and hearty, making it perfect for sharing with family and friends.

Ingredients

• Sticky Rice Coating:
  • 1 cup glutinous rice, soaked overnight
• Filling:
  • 200g plant-based ground meat (e.g., OmniPork or similar)
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small thumb ginger, finely grated
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or other rice wine)
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Optional: finely chopped shiitake mushrooms, grated carrot, or minced cabbage for extra texture

Directions

1. Prepare the Sticky Rice: Rinse the soaked glutinous rice thoroughly and drain. Set aside.
2. Make the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the plant-based ground meat, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, corn starch, five-spice powder, sesame oil, white pepper, salt, and sugar. Mix until well incorporated. If using optional vegetables, add them now and mix well.
3. Form the Meatballs: Take a small amount of the filling and shape it into a ball (about 1 inch in diameter).
4. Coat with Sticky Rice: Roll each meatball in the soaked glutinous rice, pressing gently to ensure the rice sticks to the surface.
5. Prepare the Steamer: Line a bamboo steamer with parchment paper or bamboo leaves to prevent sticking.
6. Steam the Meatballs: Place the rice-coated meatballs in the steamer, ensuring they are not touching each other. Cover and steam over boiling water for about 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is translucent and the filling is cooked through.
7. Serve: Serve the pearl balls hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Enjoy these vegan pearl balls as a delicious and festive treat! 🥢✨

Would you like to explore more vegan recipes or traditional dishes?