I was looking for low-carb recipes for using up ground beef and came across one for low carb general tso meatballs. It seemed rather bland and thought they need quite a bit of , and went in search of a sauce recipe I could alter into low carb.
I found one and I have to say, that these meatballs are now on the top of my list for meatballs. I love Swedish meatballs, but they really need a plate of egg noodles to go on – which we can’t have on low carb. Spaghetti, sauce, and meatballs – again awesome, but you can’t have on low carb. But these are saucy without needing to put them on anything, packed with flavour, and all you need with them is a fork.
I plan not only making these again, but making the sauce for chicken, chicken wings, possibly ribs, and most likely just use a spoon.
General Tso Meatballs
Ingredients
- Oil for cooking
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 1 tablespoon crushed garlic
- 2 tablespoons grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons sambal oelek hot sauce
- 1/4 cup minced shallots
- 1 teaspoon minced chives
- 1 egg
Sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or dry sherry
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Splenda
- 1 1/4 teaspoons arrowroot powder
- 1 teaspoon sambal oelek hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon crushed garlic
- 2 tablespoons grated ginger
- 2 Thai chilies minced fine
- 3 green onions cut into 1 inch pieces
Instructions
- Combine the meatball ingredients in a bowl, using a small cookie scoop, form balls.
- Put on a plate and set in the fridge for an hour.
For the sauce
- In a small frying pan, add a bit of oil (I like avocado) and saute the ginger, chilies, and garlic until fragrant.
- Add to a small sauce pot with the other sauce ingredients.
- Bring to a simmer, whisking frequently.
- Continue to give an occasional vigorous whisk, heating until thickened.
- In the meantime, heat a couple tablespoons of avocado oil to a frying pan, adding the meatballs.
- When cooked halfway through, gently turn over and continue cooking.
- When they are almost cooked, gently toss in the pan.
- Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon, and place in a bowl.
- Pour the sauce over the meatballs, tossing gently.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and serve.