Name: Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 5 g ginger (fresh); 10 g garlic; 1 egg; 1 Tbs soy sauce; 1 tsp brown sugar; 2 tsp lemongrass paste; 1/2 tsp Chinese 5 spice; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp white pepper; 500 g pork mince; 1/2 cup breadcrumbs; 10 g garlic; 5 g ginger (fresh); 1 Tbs oil; 130 g onion (cut in quarters); 1 red chili (long and deseeded and cut in quarters); 65 g tomato (fresh and diced); 80 g carrot (sliced); 80 g green capsicum (diced); 80 g red capsicum (diced); 110 g pineapple (canned and diced); 130 g snow peas (top and tail then cut in 2-3 pieces per image); 20 g green shallots (sliced); 3 kaffir leaves (shredded); 1 Tbs coriander (fresh and chopped); 55 g brown sugar; 65 g tomato sauce; 65 g rice wine vinegar; 70 g oyster sauce; 35 g soy sauce

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

Sweet and Sour Pork is a dish that everyone loves. Now you can make a healthier version of this family favourite in the Thermomix. The recipe includes loads of vegetables so there is no need to make a vegetable side dish.

Sweet and sour pork meatballs on a black bowl white background with rice

Whenever I travel internationally I like to enroll in local cooking classes. During our last Thai holiday, I was pleased to find a class that was teaching a sweet and sour cooking class. My kids almost lived off sweet and sour alone whilst we were on holiday so I knew I wanted to perfect the recipe for them.

As with all Thai dishes, this recipe has a lovely balance of flavours and it’s such a simple dish to make when you know how. I have converted the recipe from conventional cooking to the Thermomix as I find it so much easier to steam the meatballs than to stand over a wok frying them in batches. It also means you don't have to worry about the meatballs falling apart whilst you cook them!

The list of ingredients is a little long but the sauces are common to most Thai cooking and are staples that you may even already have in your pantry

Sweet & Sour Pork Tips

Baked Meatballs

To free up your Thermomix quicker you can bake the meatballs in the oven. Simply start by pre-heating the oven to 180 degrees Celcius and baking for 15-20 minutes. Reserve in a Thermoserver.

Watchpoints:

Ensure that the meatballs are an even size so they all cook through at the same time.
Space the meatballs on the Varoma allowing for the steam to easily circulate. (Use both trays)
Use a trivet on the bottom varoma tray to ensure the steam holes are not covered by the meatballs

The chef hosting my Thai cooking class gave us some helpful tips which apply to most Thai dishes:

Always prepare all the ingredients prior to cooking.
Taste the dish when the sauces have been added. Adjust the ingredients and sauces as you cook to get the correct balance between sweet & sour, spicy or salty.

Step By Step Sweet & Sour

The images below show the process steps involved in making sweet and sour pork meatballs. If you're unsure about how to cut the vegetables take a look at the images.

3 images showing the steps to making pork meatballs

3 images showing the ingredients in sweet and sour sauce

Steaming Trivet

This trivet fits neatly inside your deep Varoma dish to ensure good steam circulation whilst cooking. It also increases the base size and allows more food to be cooked in the larger Varoma dish.
For more information take a look at the Mixshop Trivet

I share loads of great recipes on the page. Our community group page is a fabulous place to ask questions and share images of recipes you have made! It helps inspire others to cook new and interesting dishes.

Let’s Connect!

If you would like more great Thermomix recipes, please follow the ThermoKitchen FB Page.

For more Thermomix recipe inspiration LETS CONNECT on;

FACEBOOK
TWITTER INSTAGRAM PINTEREST

Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs

Julie Carlyle

Sweet & Sour Pork Meatballs a family favourite -Now you can make a healthier version of this family favourite in the Thermomix. The recipe includes loads of vegetables so you won't have to make a side dish.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Main, Main Course

Cuisine Chinese, Thai

Servings serves

Calories 488 kcal

Equipment

1 Thermomix
1 Trivet
1 Varoma

Ingredients

5 g ginger fresh
10 g garlic
1 egg
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 teaspoon lemongrass paste
½ teaspoon Chinese 5 spice
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon white pepper
500 g pork mince
½ cup breadcrumbs

Sweet & Sour Vegetables

10 g garlic
5 g ginger fresh
1 Tbs oil
130 g onion cut in quarters
1 red chili long and deseeded and cut in quarters
65 g tomato fresh and diced
80 g carrot sliced
80 g green capsicum diced
80 g red capsicum diced
110 g pineapple canned and diced
130 g snow peas top and tail then cut in 2-3 pieces per image
20 g green shallots sliced
3 kaffir leaves shredded
1 Tbs coriander fresh and chopped

Sweet & Sour Sauce

55 g brown sugar
65 g tomato sauce
65 g rice wine vinegar
70 g oyster sauce
35 g soy sauce
2 Tbs cornflour
3 Tbs pineapple juice from the can

Instructions

Pork Meatballs

Place the ginger and garlic in TM bowl. Chop 3 sec/Speed 7. Scrape down the bowl. Repeat.
Add egg, soy sauce, brown sugar, Chinese 5 spice, white pepper, lemongrass and salt to the TM bowl. Combine 10 sec/Speed 4.
Add pork and breadcrumbs to TM bowl. Dough Mode 30 seconds.
Roll 16 meatballs of approximately 55g and arrange them on the Varoma trays.
Rinse the TM bowl and add 1 litre of warm tap water. Place the lid on and stack the varoma trays and lid onto the Thermomix. Steam 20min/Varoma?Speed 2.5.
Meanwhile prep the vegetables. Once the meatballs have been cooked transfer them to the ThermoServer and reserve for later.

Sweet & Sour Vegetables

Without cleaning the TM bowl add the ginger, chili and garlic to TM bowl. Chop 3 sec/Speed 9. Scrape down the bowl.
Add oil and diced onion to the garlic mixture. Saute 5 min/Varoma/Speed 2 (Reverse Blade) (MC OUT).
Add tomato pieces, carrot, red and green capsicum and pineapple to TM bowl. Cook 4min/Varoma/ Speed 1 (Reverse Blade) (MC OUT).
In a small bowl make a paste from the cornflour and reserved pineapple juice. Reserve.
Add brown sugar, tomato sauce, rice wine vinegar, oyster sauce, soy sauce, snow peas, shallot, kaffir lime, coriander and reserved cornflour mixture to the TM bowl. Cook 4min/100 degrees/Speed 1 (Reverse Blade) (MC OUT).
Pour the sweet and sour sauce over the cooked meatballs.

Notes

Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs are delicious served with rice.

Watchpoints:

Ensure that the meatballs are an even size so they all cook through at the same time.
Space the meatballs on the varoma allowing for the steam to easily circulate. (Use both trays)
Use a Trivet for the best steam circulation

OVEN BAKED

If you would like to oven-bake the meatballs you can cook them using this method.

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celcius. Bake for 15- 20 minutes depending on the size of the meatball.

Nutrition

Calories: 488kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 23gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 1445mgPotassium: 749mgFiber: 3gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 3885IUVitamin C: 83.6mgCalcium: 95mgIron: 3.3mg

Keyword kid friendly, Meatballs, Thermomix

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Asian Recipes

If you enjoy this recipe and are looking for more delicious Asian dishes, why not try some of my favourites.

Twice Cooked Chinese Pork Belly

Chinese Chicken & Sweet Corn Soup

I hope you have enjoyed this story. Feel free to leave a comment or start a discussion. If you have made a dish from this site I would love to know what you thought!

Leaving a comment and a star rating helps others decide if they should try my recipe. Plus if you hit the social media share buttons, your friends may find a delicious new recipe or Thermomix Tip too!

If you want to be notified when a new recipe is released sign up for my monthly newsletter. The form is in the footer!

Thank you for stopping by,

Happy Cooking

j xx

Link Disclosure

From time to time I recommend kitchen products and ingredients. These are always items I use and love! When I share a link to a product you can rest assured that I have tested the item and genuinely love it! If you follow my link and purchase the item in some cases I will receive a commission for the referral.
Whilst the commission may only be $1 or so, I value your support, and I take your trust very seriously.
By clicking on my link, or selecting my name "Julie Carlyle" as the referer you reward me with a small commission that helps support me and this website.
Your support keeps me cooking!

Comments

Mary Clyde says

April 01, 2023 at 8:56 am

OMG wow love love loved by whole family
Thanks Julie

- Julie Carlyle says
  
  April 01, 2023 at 10:05 am
  
  Hi Mary
  Fabulous!! I am so pleased it was a winner! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know 🙂
  Happy Cooking
  Julie
  xx
  
Julie says

October 08, 2022 at 7:58 pm

I'm so glad I saw your live with this recipe. It has so much flavour and so yummy. It's definitely a recipe we'll make again. My whole family loved it.
It's a must try recipe for anyone reading reviews.

- Julie Carlyle says
  
  October 08, 2022 at 8:43 pm
  
  Hi Julie
  I’m so pleased you enjoyed the Facebook Live and the recipe. It’s a favourite of ours too.
  Happy Cooking
  J
  
Vicky Stewart says

October 03, 2022 at 6:14 pm

This recipe may have lots of ingredients ~~ but most are staples and it comes together quickly and it’s so tasty Vx 🇬🇧

- Julie Carlyle says
  
  October 08, 2022 at 8:44 pm
  
  Hi Vicky
  I’m so pleased you liked the recipe. Yes you are so right, lots of ingredients… but most will already be in your pantry.
  Happy Cooking
  J
  
Cate says

May 10, 2021 at 8:38 pm

I made this with store-bought meatballs. The sauce is fantastic! Can you please clarify if the onion goes in the meatballs or in with the veggies?

Alexis Briffa says

June 10, 2019 at 7:27 am

This is a family fave. Made it in both my Smith and Nobel and my thermomix successfully. So yummy.

- Julie Carlyle says
  
  October 08, 2022 at 8:45 pm
  
  Hi Alexis
  That’s great information! Did you make a double batch?!? Yum!
  Thanks so much for commenting
  J xx

Thermomix Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs

Sweet & Sour Pork Tips

Step By Step Sweet & Sour