Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs with Peppers
Tender ginger-spiced pork meatballs baked until golden, then coated in glossy sweet and sour sauce with peppers.
Made with Sweet and sour sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.35 a head
- Oven200°C (180°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Put the pork, spring onions, ginger, tamari and cornflour in a bowl and mix well with your hands until tacky.
- 2
Shape into 20 even balls and arrange on a lined baking tray with a gap between each.
- 3
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, turning once, until golden and the centres are cooked through with no pink.
19 min - 4
Cook the rice following the packet.
- 5
Warm your ready made sweet and sour sauce (see the base recipe) in a wide pan, add the peppers and pineapple and simmer for 4 minutes until the peppers are just tender.
4 min - 6
Add the cooked meatballs and toss gently for 1 to 2 minutes to coat. Serve over the rice.
Tips
- Wet your hands when rolling the balls, so the mixture does not stick to you.
- Do not overmix the mince. Mixing until just combined keeps the meatballs tender.
- Cut one open to check there is no pink before you sauce them.
Storing and freezing
Keeps up to 3 days in the fridge, cooled within 1 hour. Freeze the cooked, unsauced balls in portions for up to 2 months. Reheat in sauce until steaming hot.
Questions
Do they need egg to bind?
No. Cornflour holds the mixture together, so the recipe is egg free.
Can I use chicken or turkey mince?
Yes. They are leaner, so add 1 tbsp of oil to the mix and bake for the same time, checking that the centres are cooked.
Can I pan fry the meatballs?
Yes. Fry in a little oil over a medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, turning, until browned and cooked through.
More made with sweet and sour sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.