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Green Herb & Peanut Pork Meatballs in Lettuce Cups

Yield 4 servings

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

For the sauce:

To assemble

Instructions

  1. Move an oven rack to the center position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine the onion, garlic, peanuts, lemon balm, mint, cilantro, fish sauce, brown sugar, and chili sauce. Pulse until the mixture resembles a course paste, about the texture of pesto, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  3. Scrape the herb mixture into a medium bowl, then add the pork and mix together until well combined.
  4. Use a 1-ounce portion scoop or your clean hands to form the pork mixture into meatballs about the size of golf balls. Evenly space the meatballs on the sheet pan and bake until the meatballs are cooked through and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes, turning once halfway through.
  5. While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the sauce. In a small bowl, add the lime juice, water, fish sauce, and sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add a bit of chili paste or Asian-style hot chili sauce if you like a bit of spice. Set aside.
  6. Set out the lettuce, carrot, radishes, serrano, and herbs on a tray or large plate.
  7. When the meatballs are fully cooked, transfer them to a serving plate. Let everyone assemble their own wraps with several leaves of butterhead lettuce, a scattering of fresh vegetables and herbs, a meatball or two, and a drizzle of sauce.

Notes

Lettuce wraps like these can be messy. We serve them outside on a warm spring or summer day when eating with your hands and drippy sauce will just add to the fun. If this is too messy for your house (or your kids!) just turn the components into a lovely, light salad. Tear the lettuce up a bit, top with the herbs and shredded vegetables, finish with the meatballs, and use the sauce as a dressing.

Recipe by Northwest Edible Life at https://nwedible.com/green-herb-peanut-pork-meatballs-in-lettuce-cups/