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Easy Bola Bola (Filipino meatballs) combines pork, panko breadcrumbs, carrots, and onions to make Versatile meatball recipe. Soft and delicious on the inside, then fried and crispy on the outside! The perfect appetizer or dinner idea!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast and Easy: Meatballs are quick and easy, and I love making them because of that they only need one bowl! You can also prepare it in advance and then fry it when it’s ready!
- Tastiest Texture:It’s fun to taste the flavors of Filipino food! It’s delicious, and you’ll definitely love the texture of the fried meatballs. The outside is golden and crispybut the inside remains moist and delicious!
- Perfect Appetizer or Dinner: These meatballs are SO multipurpose! Bring them as an appetizer to your next party, or serve them with rice for dinner tonight!
Materials for Making Balls
Get a taste of Filipino food at home with this ball ball meatball recipe! It only requires a few simple ingredients to make it. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.
- Ground Pork: Ground pork is traditional but use ground chicken or ground turkey if you prefer.
- Onion: I like to cut onions into fine cubes or sometimes grate them so I get the flavor and not the texture.
- Carrot: One small carrot is enough! You don’t even need to peel it, wash it and grate it whole.
- Garlic:Fresh minced garlic is the best!
- Panko Bread Crumbs: Provides a delicious texture and helps give the meatballs structure.
- Egg: Helps bind the ingredients.
- I am Willow: Just a little adds umami flavor and helps moisten the dough.
- Salt and Pepper: Improves and balances the taste of meatballs.
- Oil: Use neutral oil for frying such as canola oil or vegetable oil.
- Sweet Chili Sauce:Serve your meatballs with this delicious sauce. This is very good!
Filipino Meatballs Recipe
These meatballs come together quickly and easily, making them perfect as a side dish, main dish, or appetizer for any gathering.
- Combining: In a large bowl, combine the ground pork, onion, carrot, garlic, panko breadcrumbs, egg, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Mix: Mix everything until evenly mixed.
- Form: Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and set aside.
- Fry: Fill a large skillet halfway with canola oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Using tongs or a spider spatula, drop the meatballs into the hot oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry the meatballs, turning them halfway, until cooked through and the outside is golden brown, about 4-5 minutes total. Cool on a plate lined with paper towels.
Tips for Meatball Balls
Here are some tips and variations of ball meatballs! They are so easy to make and everyone LOVES them!
- Bread crumbs: Traditional balls use all-purpose flour to help bind the meatball ingredients, but I love the texture that panko breadcrumbs add. Feel free to use wheat flour, cornstarch, or breadcrumbs instead of panko!
- Cooking Method: My ball recipe is cooked by frying. Using a frying pan makes it SO easy! Feel free to grill, steam, fry, or boil the meatballs in sauce if you prefer.
- Oil: Make sure to use neutral oil for frying! Use canola, vegetable, or safflower oil.
- Serving Ideas: We love these meatballs as an appetizer with sauce on the side! Make a meal and enjoy with rice or with vegetables. You can also add it to soup for added protein!
- sauce: Dip your meatball balls in sweet and sour sauce, this firecracker sauce, or my tried and tested teriyaki sauce.
Storing and Reheating Ball Ball Meatballs
Bakso Bola Bola is best served fresh and warm! But you can store leftovers in the fridge and reheat them to enjoy later!
- In the Refrigerator: Once the meatballs are cool, place them in an airtight container. Place in your refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To Reheat:You can reheat them in the microwave, but I prefer to fry them in the air fryer. Place the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer, then heat for 3-4 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
More Delicious Meatball Recipes
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In a large bowl, combine the ground pork, onion, carrot, garlic, panko breadcrumbs, egg, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
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Mix everything until evenly mixed.
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Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and set aside.
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Fill a large skillet halfway with canola oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Using tongs or a spider spatula, drop the meatballs into the hot oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry the meatballs, turning them halfway, until cooked through and the outside is browned, about 4-5 minutes.
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Cool on a plate lined with paper towels. Serve the meatballs warm with additional sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Portion: 4meatballCalories: 231kcalCarbohydrate: 4GProteins: 15GFat: 17GSaturated fat: 6GPolyunsaturated fats: 2GMonounsaturated fats: 7GTrans Fat: 0.003GCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 440mgPotassium: 289mgFiber: 1GSugar: 1Gvitamin A: 1744IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
Nutritional information is calculated automatically, so should only be used as an estimate.