Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs are the perfect Japanese appetizer or a quick and easy topping for a bowl of Asian ramen noodles.
Ingredients
Sesame Miso chicken meatballs are infused with sesame oil, ginger, green onion, miso paste and then rolled in toasted sesame seeds and has a delicious ponzu sesame dipping sauce. They are super easy to make, baked to perfection and received 2 thumbs up from the hungry crew.
Of course you can use pork or beef as an exchange for the ground chicken but the ground chicken reminds me of the flavors of delicious Negima Yakitori with Grilled Portobello (Japanese grilled chicken on skewers).
Dietary Needs
Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs are gluten-free, dairy free and easy to forget how many you have eaten, as I seem to just keep popping in one after the other. Drats...now I have to make another batch.
You know recipe creation is difficult but then of course we need to have a quality assurance analyzer to make sure it passes the test. I have eaten a LOT of sesame miso chicken meatballs this week. 🙂
What is Miso paste?
Miso is a fermented soybean paste and gives many Japanese dishes their delicious umami savory flavor. You can use miso as an alternative to soy sauce or salt and it gives your dishes a deeper delicious flavor. If you are sensitive to gluten, then you are going to have to look for miso alternatives and there are many that are made without wheat or soy sauce.
I used a an organic Japanese brown rice Miso from Clear Spring and it is made with only brown rice and no barley. Miso is a delicious and easy way to add flavor and umami to these delicious Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs.
What is Ponzu Sauce
Ponzu sauce is essentially soy sauce, yuzu (Japanese citrus fruit), mirin (Japanese rice wine for cooking), dashi broth and a touch of sugar. Heck I can't even get yuzu here in Hong Kong, so I know that most of you would not be able to source this product either. Therefore, I simplified the whole recipe to include items you can find no matter where you are living.
Keeping it Gluten-Free
As our family uses tamari sauce (gluten-free soy sauce alternative) to avoid gluten, I made my own homemade ponzu sauce by simply mixing tamari and fresh squeezed lime juice together. I added just a touch of sesame oil to give the sauce a richer taste.
If you have mirin, dashi and yuzu in your pantry, by all means use that too. The Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs are delicious all by themselves and would be fabulous in a bowl of ramen noodles. However if you are serving them as an appetizer, then I suggest serving them with the ponzu sauce as it gives them a bright fresh citrus savory flavor.
More Delicious Meatball Recipes
Thai Curry Turkey Tofu Meatballs
Spanish Meatballs with Peppers and Tomato Wine Sauce
Spaghetti and Meatballs with Grandma's Sauce
Venison Meatballs with Asian Zing Sauce
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Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 8 oz ground chicken
(Minced) - ⅓ cup tofu
firm - ¼ cup green onions
chopped finely - 1 tablespoon miso paste
gluten- free - 1 tablespoon ginger
- 1 tablespoon tamari (soy sauce)
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 tablespoon sesame seeds
toasted white
Ponzu Dipping Sauce
- 3 tablespoon tamari (soy sauce)
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- In a bowl mix ground chicken, tofu, green onions, miso paste, ginger, tamari (soy sauce), white pepper, sesame oil and mix until well incorporated.
- Roll chicken mixture into 1 and ½ inch balls and then roll into toasted sesame seeds to cover chicken meatball completely. Set aside on a parchment paper lined baking dish or well greased pan. (They have a tendency to stick so don't skip this step)
- You can either bake uncovered for approximately 20 minutes in a 190 degree C (375 degrees F) oven until golden brown and no longer pink inside . Or you can pan fry for approximately 12 minutes on medium low heat and turning occasionally so they brown on all sides. When the chicken meatballs are done, they will be slightly firm to the touch and no longer pink inside.
- While your chicken meatballs are cooking, prepare the ponzu dipping sauce. In a small bowl add tamari (soy sauce), lime juice and sesame oil and mix.
- Enjoy Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs with the ponzu sesame sauce! Garnish with green onions if desired.
AiPing | Curious Nut says
What gorgeous meatballs. I've never had both miso in meatballs, nor have ever had chicken meatballs. Yes, a shame. 🙁 But I can't wait to try it.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hiya AiPing, well this may be your chance to explore something new and fun. They are so easy to make too. Take care
Sarah says
What a fantastic looking recipe- love ponzu sauce 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Sarah, I use ponzu sauce in alot of dishes. Have you ever tried it as part of a salad dressing? Really! It is delicious.
Monica says
These are so genius! I am out of miso and was out trying to get some today without luck. Need to try again tomorrow and now I know what else I can do with it. The dipping sauce is such a great combo...these babies would go fast!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Monica. You can use miso in many Asian dishes as a replacement for soya sauce or salt as it really promotes that 5th taste sense of savoury umami from the fermentation process. Wishing you family a super weekend.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Loving everything about this post, Bobbi. The texture, flavor, color and dipping sauce. Plus, they are so palatable. Everything looks wonderful. PS: I am so in LOVE with this gorgeous plate.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks so much Anu. Actually that is a one of a kind dish as I made that in a pottery class when I was living in Japan. If I had known that food blogging was going to be my thing, I would have made loads more dishes/props... LOL
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
Oh Bobbi... you're making my stomach growl! These look and sound so amazing! As soon as you compared the taste to yakitori - sold! I just love that you've made these into meatballs - so fun and so perfectly pop-able!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hiya Kathleen, I love yakitori too! One of my favorite Japanese dishes with chicken and negima and this recipe has chicken and spring onions so it is very similar in flavorings. I bet you could also dip them in some shio (Japanese Salt) and they would be delicious too.
NancyC says
These look so tasty and sound like a great appetizer!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Nancy
Eha says
After decades of virtually living on Asian food, it is so nice to see something a little different. I LOVE sesame seeds and that very easy way of making ponzu will surely be copied! Have a good weekend . . .would love to be there . . . don't think the rains have begun yet . . . would love to go up to The Peak and look down on all new since my last time in HK!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Eha, I am glad you like the recipe and the simplified ponzu sauce. Actually, we have not had sunlight in Hong Kong since Feb 8th. I am not joking. Raining for days on end and it is not even the rainy season yet. I think I need to head over to the land of OZ for sunshine and to see you of course! Wishing you a super weekend!
Jean (Bentodays) says
Oh these look so good! Makes me hungry looking at them!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Jean, I wish I could send some over to SG for you. I hope you are surviving the humidity.
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
Come Spring every year, I start to crave lime, ginger and green onions. You've got them all!! I will definitely be serving these as yummy little appetizers, Bobbi. Thanks for a fantastic recipe.
We need to catch up soon, Sweetie. oxox
Healthy World Cuisine says
Me too as these I guess are many of the spring flavors and it is so damp here I think an extra dose of ginger could not hurt to keep us all healthy. Thanks so much and looking forward to catching up soon.
cheri says
Hi Bam, Love the flavors of these meatballs and the dipping sauce sounds wonderful. I can see why your sons take quality control so seriously. Mine son nearly ate us out of house and home when he was a teenager, I now miss that.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Cheri, I think my boys take the quality control job a little too seriously as they only gave me a few minutes to get a couple of shots before they were stealing them off the last plate. LOL
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
You are so right - I would so forget how many of these I've eaten - and forget about sharing! Bobbi, I've never had chicken balls quite like this but your combo of chicken with sesame oil, ginger, green onion, miso paste and toasted sesame seeds sounds absolutely delicious!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hiya Shashi, quality control is a very serious job but even a more detrimental to note that you have just eaten all the props. Ayyahh... LOL
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Quality assurance is very important, particularly when it comes to recipes. Glad to see you're so dedicated! With this dish, I would be too. Looks wonderful, and I don't think I'd ever tire of it. Thanks!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you John! Let me know if you ever need a quality assurance drink tester/recipe for Kitchen Riff's...its a difficult job but someone has to make sure your drinks meet bartender specifications... LOL
Nancy | Plus Ate Six says
Just what I needed for Friday night nibbles on the balcony with a cold beer. Love the flavours you've got going on here - I'd probably eat a whole batch myself 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Nancy, for sure the perfect Friday nibble to enjoy with a beer or even a sake.
Jasline (Foodie Baker) says
I love meatballs - I make a big batch and freeze them every time so that I can make cheat meals on lazy days. This meatballs is definitely going onto my to-make list! I love everything sesame so I know this is definitely delicious!
Healthy World Cuisine says
That is a great idea Jasline. The only issue with 2 boys is that there are never any extras but you could so make extra a freeze and use within 2 months. I like the crispy coating of the toasted sesame on these chicken meatballs.
Gerlinde @Sunnycovechef says
You created a healthy and tasty meatball, thank you. I like the added ginger and miso.I will make these meatballs and the ponzu dipping sauce soon.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Gerlinde. I am delighted you like the flavors in this recipe. It is a super easy recipe so hope you give it a try soon. Take care