There’s something deeply comforting about a bowl dinner – especially on a busy weeknight when you want maximum flavour with minimal fuss. These sticky mirin and ginger pork meatball noodle bowls strike that perfect balance: savoury-sweet, fragrant and wonderfully slurpable.
Juicy pork meatballs are infused with fresh ginger and garlic, then glazed in a glossy mirin-soy sauce that clings to every bite. Tossed through tender noodles and finished with crisp greens and a scatter of sesame seeds, it’s the kind of meal that feels both wholesome and indulgent.
The best part? It comes together in under an hour, making it ideal for evenings when time (and energy) are in short supply.
Serve straight from the pan, let everyone build their own bowl, and don’t forget the extra drizzle of sauce – it’s what takes this from simple supper to weeknight favourite.
Sticky mirin and ginger pork meatball noodle bowls
Ingredients
MEATBALLS
- 500g pork mince
- 45g (1/2 cup) panko breadcrumbs
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- large thumb fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
- 2 spring onions, finely chopped
- 1 egg, lightly whisked
- sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- vegetable oil, to fry
STICKY MIRIN SAUCE
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 80ml (⅓ cup) mirin
- 80ml (⅓ cup) soya sauce
- 100g honey
- 1 tbsp Sriracha sauce
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
TO SERVE
- 340g medium egg noodles, cooked according to packaging instructions
- steamed vegetables such as pak choi, edamame beans and broccolini bean sprouts, to garnish
Instructions
For the meatballs, place the pork, panko breadcrumbs, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, sesame seeds, spring onion, egg and seasoning to taste in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
Roll the pork mixture into 24 balls (half the size of a golf ball). Place on a large plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
For the sticky mirin sauce, place the sesame oil and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, mix to combine and set aside.
Pour a little vegetable oil into a large pan over high heat. Fry the meatballs in batches, turning halfway through, until browned, about 5 minutes.
Turn down the heat, return all the meatballs to the pan, pour in the sticky mirin sauce and gently toss to coat the meatballs. Cook until the sauce is reduced and sticky, and the meatballs are cooked through, 10 – 15 minutes.
Serve immediately with the noodles and steamed vegetables, garnished with a few bean sprouts.
ALSO SEE: Spicy vegan rice noodle bowls with Korean fried tofu
Imka Webb is a freelance digital marketing expert and the digital editor of Food & Home Entertaining magazine. www.imkawebb.com
