Yam Meatball Chow Mein
Nourishing Yam Meatball Chow Mein with a Boost of Health!
Discover a delicious way to enjoy yams! This recipe for Yam Meatball Chow Mein features the goodness of yams, paired with savory meatballs and satisfying noodles.
Noodles and Frying Ingredients- 1 serving of thin wheat noodles (somyeon)
- 1 stalk of green onion (for garnish)
- Generous amount of cooking oil for frying
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp butter
Yam Meatball Mixture- 300g ground pork (or a mix of pork and beef)
- 120g grated yam (Japanese mountain yam or Chinese yam)
- 1 mushroom (e.g., King Oyster Mushroom), finely diced
- 1/4 onion, finely minced
- 1/8 carrot, finely minced
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 egg
- 2-3 Tbsp breadcrumbs (adjust for consistency)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 5 Tbsp all-purpose flour (for the mixture)
Chow Mein Sauce- 300-400ml water
- 1/4 chicken stock cube (or equivalent liquid stock)
- 1/2 onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tbsp)
- 1.5 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp demi-glace steak sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5-1 Tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
- Slurry: 1 Tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 Tbsp water
- 300g ground pork (or a mix of pork and beef)
- 120g grated yam (Japanese mountain yam or Chinese yam)
- 1 mushroom (e.g., King Oyster Mushroom), finely diced
- 1/4 onion, finely minced
- 1/8 carrot, finely minced
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 egg
- 2-3 Tbsp breadcrumbs (adjust for consistency)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 5 Tbsp all-purpose flour (for the mixture)
Chow Mein Sauce- 300-400ml water
- 1/4 chicken stock cube (or equivalent liquid stock)
- 1/2 onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tbsp)
- 1.5 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 Tbsp demi-glace steak sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5-1 Tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
- Slurry: 1 Tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 Tbsp water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the yam meatball mixture. In a large bowl, combine the ground pork (or pork and beef mix), grated yam, finely diced mushroom, minced onion, minced carrot, minced garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Knead the mixture thoroughly until it becomes sticky and well-combined. The yam might make the mixture a bit sticky, so if it’s too wet to form balls, gradually add a little more breadcrumbs or the all-purpose flour (about 5 Tbsp) and mix well until you achieve a workable consistency that holds its shape when rolled.
Step 2
Shape the meatball mixture into round balls, about 3-4 cm in diameter. Heat the olive oil and butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Once the pan is warm, carefully place the meatballs in it. Roll them around to ensure even browning on all sides and cook until they are fully cooked through, which should take about 8-10 minutes. You want a nice golden-brown exterior and a cooked interior. Once done, remove the meatballs from the pan and set them aside on a plate.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the delicious chow mein sauce. Using the same pan you used for the meatballs (drain excess oil if necessary), add the minced onion and sauté over medium-low heat until softened and translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Stir in the diced mushrooms and cook until they are tender. Pour in the water (300-400ml) and dissolve the chicken stock cube. Add the oyster sauce, demi-glace steak sauce, soy sauce, and sugar. Stir everything together and bring it to a gentle simmer over low heat. Gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch and water mixture) until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Once thickened, remove from heat.
Step 4
For the final step! Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the thin wheat noodles according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the noodles thoroughly and rinse them under cold water to remove excess starch and prevent sticking. Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Carefully place the drained noodles into the hot oil, spreading them out to form a flat, crispy nest shape. Fry until golden brown and crispy on both sides. Place the crispy noodle nest onto a serving plate. Arrange the cooked yam meatballs on top of the noodles. Generously ladle the warm chow mein sauce over the meatballs and noodles. Garnish with finely chopped green onions. Your delicious Yam Meatball Chow Mein is now ready to be enjoyed!
