Vietnamese Meatballs

INGREDIENTS

For the meatballs:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon honey
• 1 Thai chili, finely chopped (optional)

Dipping sauce

• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 Thai chili, finely chopped (optional)
• 
  
• Put all the ingredients for the meatballs in a food processor and blend until everything is mixed and minced. Transfer to a bowl.
• Put a little oil in your hands, just enough to lightly coat fingers and palms and use a tablespoon to scoop up the beef mixture so the meatballs are the same size. Repeat process until all the beef mixture is used.
• In a deep pan over medium high heat, add oil and the meatballs. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the meatballs over, cover and cook for another 5 or until meatballs are golden brown.
• Mix all the ingredients for the dipping sauce in a bowl and serve together with beef meatballs. Pour over or use as a dipping sauce.
• Serve with rice, tomatoes and a few cilantro leaves.