Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The lion’s head meatball (狮子头, or shīzǐ tóu) is a huge, juicy, and tender pork meatball that’s an iconic example of Huaiyang cuisine, one of the Four Great Traditions in Chinese cooking. The cuisine is all about highlighting the flavors of a single ingredient in a refined yet uncomplicated way.
The baseball-sized meatballs are both enormous and light, springy and custardy tender, about as juicy as the filling in a soup dumpling, and, once they’re doused in a savory glaze, they’re as beautiful as they are tasty. To produce that unique texture, you need to use a series of techniques—mechanical and chemical tenderization, par-frying, and an extended braise to render fat and convert collagen to gelatin—and the result might just be the best meatball in the world! To access the full recipe and more, visit chefsteps.com.
Ultra-Tender Lion’s Head Meatballs: chefsteps.com/activities/lions-head-meatballs
Buy a Breville Sous Chef® 16: Https://breville.oie8.net/0ZebEN
Buy a Breville Bakery Chef™ Stand Mixer: breville.oie8.net/n1g6B7
Buy a Control Freak Home: breville.oie8.net/9goeDy
[Time Codes]
0:00 - How to make ultra-tender lion’s head meatballs
0:56 - How to process pork belly for the meatballs
4:13 - How to mix the meatball base
7:29 - How to form and chill the meatballs
11:30 - How to fry meatballs
15:13 - How to build the braising liquid
19:13 - How to braise lion’s head meatballs
22:10 – How to thicken the braising liquid
25:05 – How to glaze lion’s head meatballs and serve with bok choy
Follow us:
instagram.com/chefsteps
facebook.com/Chefsteps
ChefSteps 101: Through science, entertainment, and industry experience, we strive to help every home cook reach their full potential. With more than 1,000 recipes developed in our kitchen, there’s something for everyone. To find out more, visit our website: chefsteps.com
The lion’s head meatball (狮子头, or shīzǐ tóu) is a huge, juicy, and tender pork meatball that’s an iconic example of Huaiyang cuisine, one of the Four Great Traditions in Chinese cooking. The cuisine is all about highlighting the flavors of a single ingredient in a refined yet uncomplicated way.
The baseball-sized meatballs are both enormous and light, springy and custardy tender, about as juicy as the filling in a soup dumpling, and, once they’re doused in a savory glaze, they’re as beautiful as they are tasty. To produce that unique texture, you need to use a series of techniques—mechanical and chemical tenderization, par-frying, and an extended braise to render fat and convert collagen to gelatin—and the result might just be the best meatball in the world! To access the full recipe and more, visit chefsteps.com.
Ultra-Tender Lion’s Head Meatballs: chefsteps.com/activities/lions-head-meatballs
Buy a Breville Sous Chef® 16: Https://breville.oie8.net/0ZebEN
Buy a Breville Bakery Chef™ Stand Mixer: breville.oie8.net/n1g6B7
Buy a Control Freak Home: breville.oie8.net/9goeDy
[Time Codes]
0:00 - How to make ultra-tender lion’s head meatballs
0:56 - How to process pork belly for the meatballs
4:13 - How to mix the meatball base
7:29 - How to form and chill the meatballs
11:30 - How to fry meatballs
15:13 - How to build the braising liquid
19:13 - How to braise lion’s head meatballs
22:10 – How to thicken the braising liquid
25:05 – How to glaze lion’s head meatballs and serve with bok choy
Follow us:
instagram.com/chefsteps
facebook.com/Chefsteps
ChefSteps 101: Through science, entertainment, and industry experience, we strive to help every home cook reach their full potential. With more than 1,000 recipes developed in our kitchen, there’s something for everyone. To find out more, visit our website: chefsteps.com
