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5 from 1 vote

Gochujang Glazed Meatballs

These tender meatballs are juicy and packed full of flavor from garlic, ginger, as well as the earthiness and sweetness of gochujang. They are coated in a sweet and sticky sauce and topped with fresh green onion. I like to serve them on shredded cabbage along with fresh and pickled vegetables for a full meal.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Korean
Keyword asian, beef, Chicken, dairy-free, dinner, gochujang, korean, lunch, main, meatball, nut-free, pork, turkey
Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 315kcal
Author Jenny Ross

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1 1/3 pounds lean ground beef or pork for higher fat, or turkey for lower fat
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 2 drops stevia glycerite omit if using coconut aminos
  • 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
  • 1 teaspoon meat tenderizer or salt
  • 1/2 asian pear or kiwi, grated, omit if using meat tenderizer
  • 1 tablespoon gochujang
  • 1/2 tablespoon mushroom powder optional, adds umami (I like to blend dried shiitake mushrooms to a powder and keep a jar on hand)
  • 1/2 cup pork panko
  • 4 green onions sliced, white and greens separated, greens reserved for garnish
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 tablespoon ginger fresh grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste or 1/8 teaspoon fish sauce, optional, adds umami
  • 1 teaspoon avocado oil optional (don't need to use if cooking in a nonstick pan)

Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon gochujang
  • 1/4 cup low sodium gluten-free soy sauce or 1/3 cup coconut aminos
  • 2-4 drops stevia glycerite to taste, omit if using coconut aminos
  • 1/3 cup chicken stock
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 tablespoon ginger fresh grated
  • 1/4 teaspoon gelatin optional, adds a richness and thickness to the sauce
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil or toasted sesame chili oil

To Serve

  • shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
  • sliced cucumber
  • sliced radish
  • sliced carrot
  • kimchi
  • pickled vegetables
  • green onions sliced thin

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients except the avocado oil. Mix gently and shape into 20 meatballs.
  • Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add a teaspoon of avocado oil and add the meatballs. Cook until browned then rotate and continue cooking until golden, but not cooked through about 5-10 minutes total.
  • Add the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute then add the remaining sauce ingredients. Cook for about 5 minutes more, or until the sauce is reduced to about 1/3 cup and the meatballs are cooked through. The sauce should be slightly thick and cling to the meatballs. Off heat, sprinkle with reserved green onion greens and drizzle with sesame oil.
  • Serve over a bed of cabbage with any additional vegetables desired.

Notes

Nutrition is for the meatballs alone.
Protein:Energy Quotient [calories]: 1.73, Protein % of calories: 53.6%
Nutrition with ground pork: Calories: 506 cal, Carbs: 9g, Fiber: 1g, Fat: 37g, Protein: 35g, Protein % of calories: 53.6%, Protein:Energy Quotient [calories]: 0.57, Protein % of calories: 27.6%
Nutrition with ground turkey: Calories: 278 cal, Carbs: 9g, Fiber: 1g, Fat: 7g, Protein: 45g, Protein:Energy Quotient [calories]: 2.78, Protein % of calories: 65%

Nutrition

Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 1365mg | Potassium: 745mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 5mg