Korean Meatballs

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There really isn’t any rhyme or reason for the recipe you see here. While talking with someone late one night, it was suggested I try making meatballs. Why I didn’t just decide to make normal meatballs is beyond me but we had been drinking and talking about Korean food and thus Korean Meatballs became my plan. Thankfully, this little experiment turned out better than I ever could have hoped for. These are awesome.

INGREDIENTS

HONEY GOCHUJANG GLAZE:

  • 3 TBS gochujang

  • 2 TBS honey

  • 1 TBS sesame oil

  • 1 TBS soy sauce

  • ½ TBS rice vinegar

  • ½ TBS mirin

  • ½ tsp white pepper

KOREAN MEATBALLS (makes 1 dozen):

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • ½ cup crushed Ritz crackers

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

  • 2 green onion stalks, finely chopped

  • 1 TBS freshly grated ginger

  • 2 TBS gochujang

  • ½ tsp white pepper

  • 1 egg, lightly beaten

  • 2 TBS canola oil

  • Sesame oil

  • Green onions, chopped (for topping)

  • Sesame seeds (for topping)

GO FOR IT

HONEY GOCHUJANG GLAZE:

  1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk until well combined

KOREAN MEATBALLS:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F

  2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix together with hands until well combined

  3. Form meat into 12 equal meatballs

  4. In a skillet or cast iron pan, heat canola oil with a drizzle of sesame oil over medium-high heat

  5. Sear meatballs for 2 minutes each on top and bottom, then remove to a lined baking sheet

  6. Brush meatballs all over with honey gochujang glaze and then place in oven for 15 minutes

  7. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds and serve hot with rice and more honey gochujang glaze

NOTES:

This recipe is pretty straightforward. If you don’t have Ritz crackers just use panko breadcrumbs but then also add about 1 tsp of salt since there won’t be any without the salty crackers. And if you don’t have mirin for the glaze just use more rice vinegar. You also shouldn’t have any trouble finding gochujang at a large grocery store but I’m sure this would be just as great using sriracha sauce or some other chili paste.