Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Pork Balls
Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Pork Balls
Classic DishSweet and Sour Pork
Prep: 20 min • Cook: 15 min. These delicious air fryer sweet and sour pork balls offer a delightful balance of tender pork and a zesty, tangy glaze. Crisped to perfection in the air fryer, they make for a fantastic appetizer or a unique main course, infused with the classic flavors of ginger and garlic.
- Preparation time
- 20 min
- Cooking time
- 15 min
- Total time
- 35 min
- Servings
- 25
Instructions
Prepare Pork Balls
- 1In a medium bowl, combine the ground pork, beaten egg, 3 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp sesame oil, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until everything is just combined; do not overmix.
- 2Roll the mixture into small, bite-sized balls, about 1 inch in diameter. You should get around 20-25 balls.
Cook Pork Balls
- 1Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- 2Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper designed for air fryers.
- 3Arrange the pork balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches.
- 4Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the pork balls are golden brown and cooked through.
Make Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1While the pork balls are cooking, whisk together ketchup, rice vinegar, sugar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and 2 tbsp water in a small saucepan.
- 2Add the minced ginger and garlic to the sauce.
- 3In a small bowl, mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water to create a slurry. Stir this slurry into the saucepan with the sauce.
- 4Heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and bubbles. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
Combine and Serve
- 1Once the pork balls are cooked, transfer them to a large bowl.
- 2Pour the thickened sweet and sour sauce over the pork balls and gently toss to coat them evenly.
- 3Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
| Nutrient | Per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 150 kcal |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Carbs | 15 g |
Tips
- For best results, ensure the pork is cold when forming the balls to make them easier to handle.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure the pork balls crisp up evenly and don't steam.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds or chopped green onions for an extra touch of flavor and color.
