Oh hello you delicious balls of meat. Yes you, all covered in a sweet and sticky sauce that just makes me keep coming back for more. I really want you in my life right now.
I've been wanting to create a meatball recipe that would be both paleo friendly and gluten free. Most meatball recipes use breadcrumbs to help bind the meat together so I had to look for an alternative.
The result here is perfect. The meatballs are tender, hold together well and have tons of flavour.
I've used almond flour in this recipe instead of breadcrumbs and love the result. Unlike coconut flour, which I find gives a sawdust texture to everything it comes in contact with, almond flour behaves a little more like breadcrumbs.
A big bonus is that almond flour, which is really just ground up almonds, adds a subtle tasty flavour to the meatballs.
If you like to eat paleo or try to avoid gluten then you'll probably already know that most store bought hoisin sauces do contain wheat. If this is something you strictly avoid then you can always make your own wheat free hoisin sauce. There are several recipes on the internet, but I like this one.
I tried out this recipe at an event I catered a month ago and they were an complete hit. They disappeared faster than anything else I put out.
When I cater events I always have my staff try each canapé so they know what they are serving. One of the servers, who has worked for me many times, said this was one of his favourite dishes. Just sayin'. 🙂
Hope you guys love these too!
If you make these Sweet Hoisin Meatballs make sure to snap a pic and hashtag #theendlessmeal on Instagram so I can like and comment on them!
- 2 lb. ground pork
- 2 lb. ground beef
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (wheat free for paleo and gluten free)
- 3 tablespoons finely minced ginger
- 6 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup hoisin sauce (store bought or homemade for paleo and gluten free)
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons ginger
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking rimmed baking tray with parchment paper.
- Combine all the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl and mix them together well. I find it best to use my hands to mix. Roll 40 meatballs and place them on the parchment lined baking tray.
- Bake them in the oven for 15 minutes, or until they have browned and are cooked through.
- While the meatballs are baking prepare the sauce. Combine all the ingredients in a medium sized bowl and bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat.
- When the meatballs are cooked remove them from the oven then put them in the pot with the sauce. Gently stir them around until they are coated well.
- Serve them topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and some sliced green onions.
Kristen Stevens
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Kristen is the person working behind the scenes at The Endless Meal. She takes all the pics, creates all the recipes and eats all the leftovers. 
Is the ginger in the sauce ground ginger or minced?
It’s minced ginger. If you don’t have any fresh ginger on hand, ground ginger will work in a pinch. 🙂
Hi, These look delicious – If I were to make these for a party, in advance, would this work? What stage would be best to do in advance and which before serving?
Thanks!
If you wanted to make these the day before you could make and bake the meatballs and make the sauce. Store the two separately in your fridge then heat the meatballs in the sauce before the party. You may want to add a small splash of water to the sauce if you are going to reheat the meatballs in it (rather than putting them in hot). I did this for a party last year and it worked great. 🙂
These sound amazing!
Thanks, Tammy!
Made these today and it was a big hit with both the hubby and the kids (Thank God!!!! They are sooooooo hard to please!!!). Thanks for sharing!!
You’re welcome, Lisa. So happy to hear they were a hit!!
Can we stop for a second and talk about how AMAZING these look!!?!?!? I don’t eat pork, but I plan on making these with all beef. yum!
Awww thank you so much, Rachel! They would be great with all beef too. 🙂
Wow these little balls looks so good! I’m sure that they wouldn’t last 5 minutes at my house!
Thanks, Allyson! They don’t last very long around here either. 🙂
Love meatballs. Especially when they are drenched in a sweet sticky sauce like this! I can imagine these meatballs were so delicious.
They were! 🙂
This is going straight to my Meatballs Pinterest board…I never met a meatball that I didn’t love 🙂
Thanks, Sue!!